As the saying goes, a happy baby requires a happy mother. This happiness will only be achieved if the mother's health is ensured. A mother's health must be maintained whether it is her physical or mental health. To achieve a healthy status for the mother, healthcare must be done before pregnancy. So if you are planning for a pregnancy, here are some steps you may follow to ensure a healthy pregnancy for both you and your future baby.

As said before, a mother's health is crucial in deciding the health status of the baby. If a mother is sick, it could affect the health of the baby and create risks during pregnancy or labor. These are some important steps to follow before pregnancy to maintain your health:

Blood test - Doing the blood test is important to ensure your health during pregnancy. By doing this test, you can identify the genetic disease risks. Genetic diseases can be passed down to the baby. After the identification of the risks, you will be able to prevent them.

Pap smear - By doing a pap smear, you will be able to identify the existence of HPV or the Human Papilloma Virus which causes cervical cancer. If the virus is found before the pregnancy, it will be much easier to handle it and find a solution.

Check the function of the thyroid - Thyroid disease is one of the most common diseases to attack adult women and children. If a pregnant woman has a thyroid disease, the risks of having miscarriage, a premature baby, and a disturbance in the fetal brain development will increase.

Glucose test - This test is very important before pregnancy, especially if you have a history of diabetes or your body mass index is categorized as obese. Women with diabetes may harm their babies, which may lead the baby to die after labor.

Gene analysis - This analysis is important to identify the possible risks of genetic diseases that can be passed onto the baby during pregnancy. Preventing the risks will be done after the identification of risks.

TORCH test - TORCH is the abbreviation of Toxoplasma, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes Simplex virus. These viruses are dangerous for pregnant women because they could increase the risk of the baby being born with disabilities and miscarriage.

These are the important steps to take to maintain health before pregnancy. Always consult the medical personnel around you and take action for possible risks before pregnancy. Always remember that it's better to stay safe than sorry. Take care, moms!