How to Care for Yourself Before You Become Pregnant

There are many things that you can do before becoming pregnant that can increase the chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby. See the list below to see what you can do before you become pregnant.

Take prenatal vitamins with folic acid every day
Taking a prenatal vitamin once a day before you become pregnant can provide major benefits to your pregnancy and your baby. Taking one vitamin a day has been shown to decrease the risk of some abnormalities of the baby's spine (neural tube defects) and some defects of the baby's lip and palate. As little as 400 micrograms of folic acid, a B vitamin, helps prevent some birth defects of the brain and spine when taken before or during early pregnancy. Daily vitamins may also decrease the risk of miscarriage and the likelihood of childhood cancers in your baby. It is important to take the vitamins before you become pregnant; the above benefits only occur if you take the vitamins before sperm meets egg. Women should discuss their vitamin needs and dosage with their physician as part of a comprehensive preconception plan.

If you smoke, try to quit
Smoking during pregnancy can cause many problems including death of your baby inside your uterus, poor growth of the baby, early rupture of the bag of waters and problems with the placenta (sudden severe bleeding internally), which can put your life and the baby’s life at risk. There are many programs available to help you quit smoking. Talk with your provider to find a program that will work for you. If you become pregnant, don’t use nicotine gum unless your doctor tells you to and explains how to do it safely for your baby.

Make sure your vaccinations are up to date
Some diseases can cause birth defects in your baby if you get the disease while you are pregnant. Varicella (chicken pox) and Rubella (German measles) are two infections that can cause problems for your baby. Luckily, we have vaccinations that will prevent you from getting these infections. If you have not had chicken pox or have not been vaccinated (or are unsure), let your provider know. If you have not been vaccinated for German Measles (or are unsure if you have been vaccinated), a simple test can be performed. You cannot get these vaccinations while you are pregnant, so find out before you become pregnant if you need them.

Know the medicines that you take
Some medicines can cause birth defects or otherwise harm the pregnancy. If you take any prescribed medicines on a regular basis, see your provider before you become pregnant. You may be able to switch to a medicine that will not be harmful during pregnancy.

If you have any medical condition, talk to your doctor before becoming pregnant
Certain diseases, such as diabetes, epilepsy and high blood pressure, can cause problems for your pregnancy and the baby if they are not under control. Taking good care of your medical problems before you become pregnant can decrease the chances of having your pregnancy affected.

Written by Dr. Karen Muchowski,