Maternity Services

Before you get pregnant

Ideally, you and your partner should follow this advice for months prior to pregnancy:

• Make a pre-pregnancy visit to your doctor or midwife.
• Both you and your partner should eat a healthy diet for at least three months prior to pregnancy. Are You Eating Right?
• Don't smoke, drink alcohol or abuse drugs--even aspirin. Talk to your health care provider about any medications you take--before you take them.
• Keep your environment safe. Avoid exposure to X-rays, lead (which can be found mainly in hot tap water), fumes from paint or glue, hazards at work, secondhand smoke and pesticides.
• Take a multivitamin supplement that has 400 micrograms of folic acid and no more than 100% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of other nutrients. Taking enough folic acid may prevent some birth defects, especially neural tube defects like spina bifida.
• Avoid or limit caffeine to one serving a day.
• Reduce stress, or learn how to effectively cope with it.
• Avoid exposure to high temperatures. Women who take long hot baths, or sit in a hot tub can damage the embryo's nervous system during the first 30 days after conception. Sperm production is reduced in men who drive a truck for hours or regularly sit in hot tubs.
• Prevent toxoplasmosis, a parasite infection that can cause mental retardation and blindness in babies. The parasite is found in cat feces, in raw and undercooked meats and on unwashed fruits and vegetables. Keep cats off kitchen counters, tables and where you prepare food. Have someone else change the cat litter. Cook meats thoroughly.
• Begin an exercise program. Exercise has many benefits for pregnant women. Why not give your body time to adjust to exercise before you become pregnant?

Continue: Genetic consultation or Trouble getting pregnant

Maternity Services home page

Last revised: December 8, 2004 (jj)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.