Thanks to the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), I want to show my love for the man in my life. He is the father of our children and my husband of 14 years.
With this upcoming week being Men’s health week and Father’s day is this coming Sunday, it is a perfect time to talk about the role of fathers in the health of their families. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but we are currently done having children. That doesn’t mean that I’m done learning anything new about prenatal care when it comes to men and women.
Did you know that pre-conception and pre-pregnancy health is important for men as well as women?
When you think about preconception health, what do you think of? The women, of course. Everyone thinks that the woman is the only person who has to ready their body for the new life that will happen but that isn’t true. It is just as important for a man to change some of their habits as it is for them to support their spouse in this journey.
Here are some ways you can change to get ready for baby:
- Get screened for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and protect yourself and your partner from STDs during pregnancy
- Stop smoking, drinking excessively and using “street” drugs. Alcohol and “street” drugs can cause infertility in men. Secondhand smoke exposure is harmful to pregnant women and to children, so quitting now is important.
- A man’s sperm can be changed by overall health and lifestyle. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about infertility.
- Support your partner. Join your partner at her doctor’s appointments, and take steps to be healthier together through exercise and healthy eating.
So, as we come up on this Father’s day, I thank my husband for always being ready for the pregnancies we had whether he was truly prepared or not. We always worked together to make sure I had the healthiest pregnancies and the healthiest children.
More information on the #ShowYourLove campaign:
