If you are trying to have a baby or are just thinking about it, it is not too early to start getting ready for pregnancy. Preconception health and health care focus on things you can do before and between pregnancies to increase the chances of having a healthy baby. For some women, getting their body ready for pregnancy takes a few months. For other women, it might take longer. Whether this is your first, second, or sixth baby, the following are important steps to help you get ready for the healthiest pregnancy possible.
Whether or not you’ve written them
down, you’ve probably thought about your goals for having or not
having children, and how to achieve those goals. This is called a
reproductive life plan. For example, when you didn’t want
to have a baby, you used effective birth control methods to achieve
your goals. Now that you’re thinking about getting pregnant, it’s
really important to take steps to achieve your goal—getting
pregnant and having a healthy baby!
Make a plan »
Before getting pregnant, talk to your
doctor about preconception
health care. Your doctor will want to discuss your health
history and any medical conditions you currently have that could
affect a pregnancy. He or she also will discuss any previous
pregnancy problems, medicines that you currently are taking,
vaccinations that you might need, and steps you can take before
pregnancy to prevent certain birth defects.
If your doctor has not talked with you about this type of care―ask
about it! Take a
list of questions you might have so you don’t forget
anything.
Be sure to talk to your doctor about:
Medical Conditions
If you currently have any medical conditions, be sure they are
under control and being treated. Some of these conditions include:
sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs), diabetes, thyroid
disease, phenylketonuria
(PKU), seizure
disorders, high blood
pressure, arthritis,
eating disorders, and
chronic diseases.
Lifestyle and Behaviors
Talk with your doctor or another health professional if
you smoke, drink alcohol, or use “street” drugs; live in
a stressful or abusive
environment; or work with or live around toxic
substances. Health care professionals can help you with
counseling, treatment, and other support services.
Medications
Taking certain medicines during
pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. These include some
prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary or herbal
supplements. If you are planning a pregnancy, you should discuss
the need for any medication with your doctor before becoming
pregnant and make sure you are taking only those medications that
are necessary.
Vaccinations (shots)
Some vaccinations
are recommended before you become pregnant, during pregnancy, or
right after delivery. Having the right vaccinations at the right
time can help keep you healthy and help keep your baby from getting
very sick or having lifelong health problems.
Folic acid is a B vitamin. If a woman
has enough folic acid in her body at least 1 month before
and during pregnancy, it can help prevent major birth
defects of the baby’s brain and spine.
Learn more about folic acid
»
Smoking, drinking alcohol, and using
street drugs can cause many problems during pregnancy for a woman
and her baby, such as premature birth, birth defects, and infant
death.
If you are trying to get pregnant and cannot stop drinking,
smoking, or using drugs―get help! Contact your doctor or
local treatment center.
Alcohol and Drug Resources:
Substance Abuse
Treatment Facility Locator
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) has a treatment facility locator. This locator helps
people find drug and alcohol treatment programs in their
area.
Alcoholics
Anonymous (A.A.)
Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share
their experiences, strengths, and hopes with each other so that
they can solve their common problem and help others to recover from
alcoholism. Locate
an A.A. program near you.
Learn more about alcohol
and pregnancy »
Smoking Resources:
1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
Learn more about smoking
during pregnancy »
Avoid toxic substances and other
environmental contaminants harmful materials at work or at home,
such as synthetic chemicals, metals, fertilizer, bug spray, and cat
or rodent feces. These substances can hurt the reproductive systems
of men and women. They can make it more difficult to get pregnant.
Exposure to even small amounts during pregnancy, infancy,
childhood, or puberty can lead to diseases. Learn how to protect
yourself and your loved ones from toxic substances at work and at
home.
“Toxic
Matters” Brochure »
Learn about the
effects of toxic substances on reproductive health »
Learn how
CDC tracks Children’s Environmental Health »
People who are overweight or obese have a
higher risk for many serious conditions, including complications
during pregnancy, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain
cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon).1 People who are underweight are also at risk
for serious health problems.2
The key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight isn't about
short-term dietary changes. It's about a lifestyle that includes
healthy eating and regular physical activity.
If you are underweight, overweight, or obese, talk with your
doctor about ways to reach and maintain a healthy weight before you
get pregnant.
Learn more
about healthy weight »
Violence can lead to injury and death
among women at any stage of life, including during pregnancy. The
number of violent deaths experienced by women tells only part of
the story. Many more survive violence and are left with lifelong
physical and emotional scars.
If someone is violent toward you or you are violent toward your
loved ones―get help. Violence destroys relationships and
families.
Find
out where to get help for yourself or someone else »
Learn
about violence prevention »
Collecting your family's health
history can be important for your child's health. You might not
realize that your sister’s heart defect or your cousin’s sickle
cell disease could affect your child, but sharing this family
history information with your doctor can be important.
Based on your family history, your doctor might refer you for
genetic counseling. Other reasons people go for genetic counseling
include having had several miscarriages, infant deaths, or trouble
getting pregnant (infertility), or a genetic condition or birth
defect that occurred during a previous pregnancy.
Learn more
about family history »
Learn
more about genetic counseling »
Mental health is how we think, feel,
and act as we cope with life. To be at your best, you need to feel
good about your life and value yourself. Everyone feels worried,
anxious, sad, or stressed sometimes. However, if these feelings do
not go away and they interfere with your daily life, get help. Talk
with your doctor or another health professional about your feelings
and treatment options.
Learn
about mental health »
Learn
about depression »
Once you are pregnant, be sure to keep
up all of your new healthy habits and see your doctor regularly
throughout pregnancy for prenatal care.
Learn how to have a healthy
pregnancy »