Getting ready for pregnancy is an important step to a healthy pregnancy and a
healthy baby.
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5
Steps to Get Ready
for a Healthy Pregnancy
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Take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid
every
day for at least 3 months before getting
pregnant to help prevent birth defects.
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Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
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If you have a medical condition, be sure it
is under control. Some conditions include asthma,
diabetes, oral health, obesity, or epilepsy. Also be
sure that your vaccinations are up to date.
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Talk to a health care professional about any
over-the-counter and prescription medicines you are
taking. These include dietary or herbal
supplements.
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Avoid contact
with toxic substances or materials that could cause
infection at work and at home. Stay away from
chemicals and cat or rodent feces.
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Click on the links that follow to learn more about getting ready
for a healthy pregnancy.
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Planning
Preconception Care:
Learn why it’s important to be healthy before getting pregnant.
Learn how to create a reproductive life plan. And find out what your
health care provider should do at regular pre-pregnancy visits.
Pregnancy-Planning Education Program:
Receive health information by email every other week for 3 months as
you get ready for pregnancy.
Sexual Health: Sexual
health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and
sexual relationships
Women's Health: Find tips to
improve women's health, safety, and quality of life.
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Preventing Problems
Folic Acid: Folic acid is
a B vitamin that can help prevent major birth defects. Take a
vitamin with 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day, starting
before you become pregnant.
Smoking during
pregnancy is the single most preventable cause of illness and
death among mothers and infants. Learn more about the dangers of
smoking and find help to quit before you get pregnant.
Alcohol: When a pregnant woman
drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. There is no known safe
amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant. If you’re planning a
pregnancy, stop drinking alcohol now.
Diabetes: Poor control of
diabetes during pregnancy increases the chance for birth defects and
other problems for your baby. It can cause serious complications for
you, too.
Hypertension:
Existing high blood pressure can increase the risk of problems when
you become pregnant.
Bleeding Disorders:
Bleeding and clotting disorders can cause serious problems for
women. These problems include heavy menstrual bleeding (a disorder
called menorrhagia), bleeding and clotting complications in
pregnancy, and miscarriage. If you have a bleeding disorder or have
heavy menstrual bleeding, talk to your health care provider.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs):
Learn about the harmful effects of STDs and
find out how to protect yourself and your
baby against infection.
Bacterial
vaginosis (BV) -
Chlamydia
- Genital
Herpes -
Gonorrhea
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Hepatitis -
Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- Human
Papillomavirus (HPV) -
Pelvic
Inflammatory Disease (PID) -
Syphilis
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Trichomoniasis
Vaccinations:
Talk to your doctor about vaccinations (shots). Many are safe and
recommended before and during pregnancy, but some are not. Having
the right vaccinations at the right time can help keep you and your
baby healthy.
Vaccinations and Other Information for Travel: If you are
planning a trip outside of the United States during a time when
you might become pregnant (planned or unplanned), find out about
which vaccinations you need.
Medications:
Taking certain medications during pregnancy might cause serious
birth defects for your baby. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about
any medications you are taking. These include prescription and
over-the-counter medications and dietary or herbal
supplements.
Violence can lead
to injury and death among women in any stage of life, including
during pregnancy. Learn more about violence against women.
Click here to find out where to get help for yourself or someone
else.
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Genetics and Family History
Genetics:
Understanding genetic factors and genetic disorders is important in
learning more about preventing birth defects, developmental
disabilities, and other unique conditions in children.
Genetic
Testing: Before you become pregnant, you might get blood
tests (genetic tests) for certain inherited diseases. You and
your partner can be tested to see if you carry a gene that is
linked with a disease that could be passed on to your children.
Family History: Family members share their genes and their
environment, lifestyles, and habits. A family history can help
you learn about possible disease risks for you and your baby.
Genetic Counselor: Your doctor might suggest that you see a
genetic counselor if you have a family history of a genetic
condition or have had several miscarriages or infant deaths.
| If you are a healthcare professional or researcher
looking for more technical information,
click here. |
Date:
November 01, 2007
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
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