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Before Pregnancy

Give your baby the best chance for a healthy start. Prepare your body now before becoming pregnant. Talk to your healthcare provider early to make sure you and your loved ones are prepared. Below are things you can do to support a healthy pregnancy.

Healthcare

  • Appointments: Schedule a preconception appointment with your provider to prepare your body for pregnancy. Discuss your overall health, any existing medical problems, current medications (some are not safe when you are pregnant), and family health history.
  • Fertility: Ask your provider when you are most fertile, so you know the best time to get pregnant or to avoid becoming pregnant. If you are struggling with infertility, now may be a good time to ask about in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), surrogacy, or adoption.
  • Genetic counseling: Genetic counseling helps you understand the risks of genetic conditions, provides insights into potential health issues, aids in planning for a healthy pregnancy, and supports informed choices for your family’s future.
    • Risk assessment and medical history review: Identifies potential genetic risks and the chances of having a child with a genetic disorder, such as Down Syndrome, which can increase with parental age.
    • Carrier testing: Determines if you carry genes for inherited diseases, helping you understand and prepare for potential health risks.
    • Decision-making and emotional support: Provides guidance and emotional support through genetic testing, aiding informed choices about family planning and pregnancy.
  • Vaccinations: Visit the CDC website to find out what vaccinations to get before, during, and after pregnancy to protect yourself and your child from serious diseases, like whooping cough, flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

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Mental Health

Pregnancy can be an emotional time. It’s important to take care of your mental health and have a support system in place. Below are resources to help.

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Nutrition & Exercise

Eat healthy: Start a balanced diet rich in fruits, whole grains, vegetables and lean proteins.

  • Begin taking prenatal vitamins – especially folic acid – up to three months before trying to conceive.
  • CDC recommends all people capable of becoming pregnant get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily. Getting 400 mcg of folic acid each day helps prevent some serious birth defects called neural tube defects (NTDs).
  • There are multiple ways to meet this recommendation. You can get folic acid from supplements, such as vitamins, or from foods where folic acid has been added, such as enriched bread.
  • It is also important to have a varied diet with folate-rich foods such as dark green leafy vegetables and beans.

Stay active: Do some light exercise, like walking or swimming, to stay healthy.

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Sexual Health

Anyone who is having sex can get sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STIs can be passed to the baby during pregnancy or birth. This can cause serious health problems for your baby.

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Substance Use

Avoid harmful substances like alcohol, street drugs, marijuana, opioids, caffeine and tobacco, as they can negatively affect your health and the health of your baby.

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Updated December 4, 2024, 2:15 PM