If you are planning a pregnancy, congratulations! During your planning process, there are many elements expectant mothers should consider before being blessed with a baby. By thoughtfully planning ahead, future moms-to-be can ensure they are in the most optimum health.

One of the most important elements of planning for your new bundle of joy is analyzing whether you should mix red wine and pregnancy. Below we have outlined helpful tips for pre-pregnancy planning, including analysis regarding whether you should combine red wine and pregnancy.

Schedule a pre-pregnancy check-up with your doctor.

This is important for everyone, but especially for regular red wine or alcohol drinkers. Discuss the issue of alcohol consumption with your doctor before you accidentally mix red wine and pregnancy.

Red wines are rich in resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant found in the skins and seeds of grapes. Red wine’s heart-healthy resveratrol improve cardiovascular health when consumed in moderation. But because the first trimester of pregnancy is generally considered the period of greatest risk to an unborn baby, your doctor may advise you to stop drinking alcohol immediately, even before pregnancy if you are actively trying to conceive. This will ensure no alcohol risks to the fetus during those crucial first weeks of development when you may not yet realize you are pregnant.

In addition, during your visit to the doctor, ensure your vaccinations are up to date and schedule any needed immunizations BEFORE you get pregnant.

Start taking pre-natal vitamins before pregnancy.

During the pre-conception period, you will want to ensure you are in optimum health. Taking pre-natal vitamins before pregnancy will ensure you are not suffering from any vitamin or mineral deficiency that could affect your unborn child. When you are trying to get pregnant, folic acid should be on the top of your health checklist. Taking folic acid before conception reduces the risk of neural-tube birth defects, such as spina bifida.

Also, if you have been a regular red wine drinker and your doctor advises you to cut red wine out of your diet altogether, you might want to consider a resveratrol supplement to continue the heart-healthy benefits from red wine, but without the alcohol risk.

Schedule a dental visit.

Plan on getting any needed dental work done before pregnancy. The anesthesia and potential bacterial infections are not ideal conditions during pregnancy.

Get plenty of exercise and stay in shape.

Pregnancy, labor and delivery require a lot of stamina. Explore available exercise classes in your area that are targeted to pregnant moms to make pregnancy, labor and delivery easier.

Check into availability of available birthing options.

Lamaze classes are available in most areas and other options may be available as well. Knowing your options makes it easier to better plan an optimal labor and delivery for your baby.

Be sure you are eating a healthy well-balanced diet.

Include lots of whole-grains, fruits and vegetables and kept taking your pre-natal vitamins. Again, if you had previously been drinking moderate amounts of red wine regularly with dinner or at bedtime, discuss the issue with your doctor. You do not want to mix red wine and pregnancy, either intentionally or accidentally.

Educate yourself on resveratrol and other antioxidants.

Become more informed and better aware of the pregnancy process and the issues that affect both you and your baby. Healthy outcomes are the goal of every pregnancy.

High levels of resveratrol and other antioxidants found in red wines have led some doctors to tell pregnant women an occasional glass of red wine shouldn’t be harmful. This contradicts the opposite advice given by mainstream media and the established medical community.

To not risk the health of your baby at all, you should not mix red wine and pregnancy; instead, opt for resveratrol supplements to give you and your baby the same antioxidant boost. Women who want potential health benefits from red wine may choose to take resveratrol supplements during pre-conception and pregnancy to avoid potential alcohol-related risks to the fetus.

Do not combine red wine and pregnancy – even during pre-pregnancy.

The latest U.S. government reports relating to the consumption of alcohol recommends that women who are planning a pregnancy should abstain from alcohol. In their study published in June 2008, this new advice recommends that both women trying to conceive and those who are already pregnant abstain from alcohol entirely. This replaces previous government advice that consuming one or two units a week is acceptable. Some moderate red wine drinkers may view these recommendations as over-cautious and extreme. Some medical authorities still believe moderate drinking during pregnancy as acceptable. Others feel taking even one drink may be harmful to your unborn baby’s health.

Regardless of the changing recommendations, there is one fact that remains undisputed: during pregnancy, whatever a woman eats or drinks goes directly through the bloodstream into the placenta. Literally, if a pregnant woman takes a drink of red wine, or any other alcoholic beverage, it is also being consumed by their unborn baby.

To protect your baby, do not mix red wine and pregnancy.

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