Pre-pregnancy health is your health before you become pregnant. A woman wanting to get pregnant should get healthier and prepare her body for pregnancy at least three months or more before getting pregnant. A good pre-pregnancy health can improve your chances of getting pregnant, having a healthy pregnancy, and having a healthy baby.
Pre-pregnancy health care helps you become healthier before becoming pregnant. It helps you to learn what you can do now to make sure your future pregnancy is healthy. It helps you to know how certain health conditions and risk factors could affect your and your future baby’s health. Pre-pregnancy health care helps you take right steps to prevent problems that might affect you or your baby later.
Seven Steps That Can Boost Your Pre-Pregnancy Health
Begin your pregnancy planning by taking the following six most important steps:
- If you have any medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, oral health, obesity, epilepsy or others, talk to your doctor and bring them under control. These conditions can adversely affect your pregnancy.
- Discuss with your doctor about any over-the-counter and prescription medicines, and dietary or herbal supplements you are taking. Some of these may affect your pregnancy.
- Make sure your vaccinations are up to date.
- Start taking 400 to 800 micrograms (0.4 mg to 0.8 mg) of folic acid every day. This will lower the risk of some birth defects to your future baby. These birth defects are related to brain and spine (central nervous system) and are called neural tube defects.
- Quit smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Avoid contact with toxic chemicals or substances and contaminant materials at work or home that could cause infection. Also stay away from cat or rodent feces.
- Start eating healthy and nutritious food.
