 	        			Are you planning a baby? Plan a visit with your
doctor!

At this visit, you can discuss any health concerns
you have and ask for advice on all the steps
listed here! Also tell your doctor if other types
of doctors, including for mental health, are
treating you.

 

Before Pregnancy
Bottle of folic acid pillsIf you are thinking
about getting pregnant, or you are able to get
pregnant, try to take care of your health as best
as you can. Here’s what you can do:

    *

      Get 400 micrograms (or 0.4 mg) of folic acid
daily from foods fortified with folic acid, or a
vitamin, or folic acid pill before you get
pregnant and in the first three months while
you’re pregnant. Folic acid (or folate) can help
keep your baby from having birth defects. If you
don't get enough folic acid, your baby’s spine
may not form right. This is called spina bifida
(spy-nuh bif-uh-duh). Also, without enough folic
acid, your baby’s brain may not form or may only
partly form. This is called anencephaly
(an-en-seffelee). Many doctors will prescribe a
vitamin for you that has folic acid. But you also
can buy vitamins or folic acid pills at the drug
store or grocery store. Taking folic acid in a
pill is the best way to be sure you’re getting
enough. You could get your folic acid though food
alone, but it is hard to know if you’re getting
enough. A healthy diet is always good for you and
your baby though. Some foods with folate are leafy
green vegetables, kidney beans, orange juice and
other citrus fruits, peanuts, broccoli, asparagus,
peas, lentils, and whole-grain products. Folic
acid is also added to some foods like enriched
breads, pastas, rice and cereals. Click here for
more information on folic acid.

      One half of all pregnancies are not
planned!

      And women often don't realize that they are
pregnant during the first couple of weeks. These
are good reasons why you should always take care
of your health. Your baby is counting on you for
the best start at life!

       
    *

      Start watching what you eat. Load up on your
fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains (such as
whole-wheat breads or crackers). Eat plenty of
calcium-rich foods (such as non-fat or low-fat
yogurt, milk, and broccoli) that your baby needs
for strong bones and teeth. If you live in areas
where fruits and vegetables aren’t in season,
frozen vegetables are a good option. Avoid eating
a lot of fatty foods (such as butter and fatty
meats). Choose leaner foods when you can (such as
skim milk, chicken and turkey without the skin,
and fish). Click here for more information on
pregnancy and nutrition.
    *

      Tell your doctor if you smoke or use alcohol
or drugs. Quitting is hard, but you can do it. Ask
your doctor for help.
    *

      Get enough sleep (try to get seven to nine
hours every night).
    *

      If you can, control the stress in your life.
When it comes to things like work and family,
figure out what you can really do. Set limits with
yourself and others. Don’t be afraid to say NO to
requests for your time and energy.
    *

      Move your body. Once you get pregnant, you
cannot increase your exercise routine by much. So
it’s best to start before the baby is on the way.
    *

      Get any health problems under control. Talk
to your doctor about how your health problems
might affect you and your baby while pregnant. If
you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar
levels. If you have high blood pressure, monitor
these levels as well. If you are overweight, talk
to your doctor about what a healthy weight is for
you. Talk to your doctor about how your health
problems might affect you and your baby while
pregnant. There are things both you and your
doctor can do to help you have a safe pregnancy
and healthy baby.
    *

      Ask your mother, aunts, grandmother and
sisters about their pregnancies. Did they have
morning sickness? Problems with labor? How did
they cope with them?
    *

      Find out what health problems run in your
family. Tell these to your doctor. You can get
tested before getting pregnant for some health
problems that run in families (genetic testing).
    *

      Make sure you have had all of your
immunizations (shots), especially for Rubella
(German measles). If you haven't had chickenpox
or rubella, get the shots at least three months
before getting pregnant.
    *

      Get checked for hepatitis (hep-uh-tie-tus) B
and C, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and
HIV since these can harm both you and your baby.
Tell your doctor if you or your sex partners have
ever had an STD or HIV.
    *

      Go over all of the medicines you take
(prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines you buy
without prescriptions, and herbals) with your
doctor and ask if they are safe to take while you
are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant.

Ask your partner to stay healthy too!

Ask your partner to limit how much alcohol he
drinks. If he uses illegal drugs or smokes,
encourage him to quit. Studies show that men who
drink a lot, smoke, or use drugs can have problems
with their sperm. These might cause you to have
problems getting pregnant.

 

Planning Conception

While planning to conceive, you may choose natural
planning methods such as the ovulation method
(intercourse takes place just before or after
ovulation) or the symptothermal method (evaluating
fertility based on your daily temperature).
Remember: women are more likely to become pregnant
if intercourse takes place just before or just
after ovulation. This is because the unfertilized
egg can live for only 12-24 hours in your body. If
you have been trying for a few months with no
results, don't get discouraged. Only 20% of women
who are trying to get pregnant are successful on
the first attempt, so don't lose hope or assume
something is wrong.

Infertility

Women today are often delaying having children
until later in life, when they are in their 30s
and 40s. While many women in their 30s and 40s
have no problems getting pregnant, fertility does
decline with age. If you are over 40 and have not
become pregnant after six months of trying, you
should see your doctor for a fertility
evaluation.

It is not uncommon to have trouble becoming
pregnant or to experience infertility (inability
to become pregnant after trying for one year).
Overall, there are about 2.1 million married
couples in America experiencing infertility, and
some 9 million women have used fertility
treatments. If you think that you or your partner
may be infertile, you can discuss this with a
health care provider who can recommend treatments
such as drugs, surgery, or assisted reproductive
technology. Click here for more information on
infertility.

Adoption and Foster Care

Baby smilingIf infertility is a problem for you,
other options you might want to consider are
adoption and foster care. Adopting or becoming a
foster parent could be one of the most rewarding
experiences of your life. Click here for more
information on adoption and foster care.

This page last updated: October 2004

E-mail this page to a friend

These publications and organizations can help you
prepare for pregnancy, and learn about how to get
pregnant:

    * Family Planning and Birth Control
    * Pregnancy after 35
    * Genetic Counseling

Family Planning and Birth Control
Publications

   1.

      Age and Fertility: A Guide for Patients
(Copyright © ASRM) - This publication is a guide
for patients. It offers information about
fertility after 40, different medical conditions,
ovarian changes, treatment options and
alternatives, support services and additional
resources.
     
http://www.asrm.org/Patients/patientbooklets/agefe
rtility.pdf
   2.

      Federal resource  Frequently Asked Questions
- Emergency Contraception - This publication
contains information on emergency contraception
(EC), which is commonly referred to as "the
morning after pill." It explains when women
should consider using this method of birth
control, the safety of emergency contraception,
and why if it fails, it will not harm the baby or
cause an abortion.
     
http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/econtracep.htm
   3.

      Frequently Asked Questions on Contraception
(Copyright © FHI) - This fact sheet explains
combined oral contraceptives, their risks and
benefits and possible side effects.
     
http://www.fhi.org/en/fp/fpfaq/fpfaqs/fpfaq8a.html

   4.

      Natural Family Planning (Copyright © AAFP) -
This on-line publication provides information on
natural family planning, how it works, the success
rate, and the advantages.
      http://familydoctor.org/126.xml
   5.

      Natural family planning (Copyright © MFMER)
- This on-line publication discusses what is
natural family planning, how it works, how to you
use it, is it reversible, and how effective is it
at preventing pregnancy. It also discusses the
risks, the costs, and availability.
     
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=WO00035
   6.

      Pre-Pregnancy Planning (Copyright © MOD) -
This public education fact sheet stresses the
importance of early and regular prenatal care.
     
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/681_1156
.asp
   7.

      Pregnancy After Age 35 (Copyright © MOD) -
This fact sheet discusses the ability of women
over 35 to become pregnant, but also provides
information on possible complications associated
with age.
     
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/173_812.asp
   8.

      Pregnancy after Infertility (Copyright ©
Resolve) - This fact sheet provides information on
some symptoms of pregnancy you should look for,
and also discusses some emotions you may
experience during that time.
     
http://www.resolve.org/main/national/pregparent/pr
egnancy/index.jsp?name=pregparent&tag=pregnancy
   9.

      Ways to Chart Your Fertility Pattern
(Copyright © PPFA) - This publication contains
information on the different ways that a woman can
chart when she is the most fertile, when she has
ovulated, and when she will be least likely to
conceive
     
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/bc/WaysToChart.ht
ml
  10.

      Your Contraceptive Choices (Copyright ©
PPFA) - This publication gives brief explanations
for a variety of contraceptive choices including:
condoms, diaphragms, norplant, depo-provera,
lunnelle, the pill, IUD's, sterilization,
vasectomy and emergency contraception.
     
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/
portal/medicalinfo/birthcontrol/pub-contraception-
choices.xml

Organizations

   1.

      American Academy of Family Physicians
      http://www.aafp.org
   2.

      American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (ACOG) Resource Center
      http://www.acog.org
   3.

      American Society for Reproductive Medicine
      http://www.asrm.org
   4.

      Association of Reproductive Health
Professionals
      http://www.arhp.org/
   5.

      Center for Applied Reproductive Science
      http://www.ivf-et.com/
   6.

      Ferre Institute, Inc.
      http://www.ferre.org/
   7.

      Federal resource  Food and Drug
Administration, HHS
      http://www.fda.gov/
   8.

      International Council on Infertility
Information Dissemination
      http://www.inciid.org/
   9.

      March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
      http://www.marchofdimes.com
  10.

      Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and
Research
      http://www.mayoclinic.com
  11.

      Federal resource  National Women's Health
Information Center, OWH, HHS
      http://www.womenshealth.gov
  12.

      Planned Parenthood Federation of America
      http://www.plannedparenthood.org
  13.

      Resolve
      http://www.resolve.org/
  14.

      Society for In Vitro Biology
Source: Womenshealth.gov