What Do I Need to Get Ready for Baby

If you lot are trying to take a babe or are just thinking about it, information technology is non as well early to get-go getting ready for pregnancy. Preconception wellness and health care focus on things you can do before and between pregnancies to increment the chances of having a salubrious baby. For some women, getting their body ready for pregnancy takes a few months. For other women, it might take longer. Whether this is your first, 2nd, or sixth baby, the post-obit are important steps to help you get set up for the healthiest pregnancy possible.

1. Make a Program and Take Activity

Whether or not you've written them downwardly, you've probably idea about your goals for having or not having children, and how to attain those goals. For example, when you didn't want to take a baby, you used constructive nascence control methods to reach your goals. Now that you're thinking about getting pregnant, information technology'due south really of import to have steps to achieve your goal pdf icon [PDF – 764 KB]—getting pregnant and having a good for you baby!

Preventive health care can help you stay healthier throughout your life.

ii. Meet Your Doctor

Before getting pregnant, talk to your dr. nearly preconception health care. Your physician will desire to talk over your health history and whatsoever medical atmospheric condition yous currently have that could touch a pregnancy. He or she also will discuss whatever previous pregnancy problems, medicines that y'all currently are taking, vaccinations that you might need, and steps y'all tin take before pregnancy to foreclose certain birth defects.

If your medico has non talked with y'all about this blazon of care―ask about it! Have a list of talking points so you lot don't forget annihilation!

Be sure to talk to your doctor nigh:

Medical Conditions

If you lot currently take any medical weather, be sure they are nether control and being treated. Some of these conditions include: sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), diabetes, thyroid illnessexternal icon, high blood force per unit area, and other chronic diseases.

Lifestyle and Behaviors

Talk with your dr. or some other health professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use certain drugs; live in a stressful or abusive environment; or work with or live effectually toxic substances. Wellness care professionals can aid you with counseling, treatment, and other support services.

Medications

Taking certain medicines during pregnancy can cause serious nativity defects. These include some prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary or herbal supplements. If you are planning a pregnancy, yous should discuss the need for whatever medication with your medico before becoming meaning and make certain yous are taking only those medications that are necessary.

People may employ opioids every bit prescribed, may misuse prescription opioids, may use illicit opioids such as heroin, or may use opioids equally part of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. If a adult female is significant or planning to become pregnant, the first thing she should do is talk to a healthcare provider. Some women need to accept an opioid medication during pregnancy to manage pain or to treat opioid use disorder. Creating a handling plan for opioid apply disorder, too as other co-occurring health weather condition, before pregnancy can aid a woman increase her chances of a good for you pregnancy. If you are struggling with an opioid utilise disorder, take a look at CDC'southward and partner resources.

Vaccinations (shots)

Some vaccinations are recommended before you become pregnant, during pregnancy, or right subsequently commitment. Having the right vaccinations at the right time can help go on you salubrious and help keep your infant from getting very sick or having lifelong wellness problems.

3. Accept 400 Micrograms of Folic Acid Every Day

Folic acid is a B vitamin. If a woman has enough folic acid in her body at to the lowest degree ane month before and during pregnancy, it can assistance forbid major birth defects of the baby's brain and spine.

Acquire more most folic acid »

4. Stop Drinking Alcohol, Smoking, and Using Certain Drugs

Smoking, drinking alcohol, and using certain drugs can crusade many bug during pregnancy for a woman and her baby, such every bit premature nascency, nativity defects, and babe death.

If you lot are trying to go pregnant and cannot stop drinking, smoking, or using drugs―go aid! Contact your physician or local treatment middle.

Alcohol and Drug Resources

Substance Abuse Handling Facility Locatorexternal icon
The Substance Abuse and Mental Wellness Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a handling facility locator. This locator helps people find drug and alcohol handling programs in their area.

Alcoholics Anonymousexternal icon (A.A.)
Alcoholics Bearding® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experiences, strengths, and hopes with each other so that they can solve their common trouble and help others to recover from alcoholism. Locate an A.A. programexternal icon almost you lot.

Learn more than about alcohol and pregnancy »

Smoking Resource

ane-800-QUIT-At present (i-800-784-8669)

Learn more about smoking during pregnancy »

5. Avert Toxic Substances and Ecology Contaminants

Avoid harmful chemicals, environmental contaminants, and other toxic substances such as synthetic chemicals, metals, fertilizer, bug spray, and cat or rodent feces around the dwelling and in the workplace. These substances tin can injure the reproductive systems of men and women. They can make it more than difficult to go significant. Exposure to even small amounts during pregnancy, infancy, childhood, or puberty can pb to diseases. Larn how to protect yourself and your loved ones from toxic substances at work and at home.

Learn about the effects of toxic substances on reproductive health »

Learn how CDC tracks Children's Environmental Wellness »

six. Reach and Maintain a Healthy Weight

People who are overweight or obese accept a higher risk for many serious conditions, including complications during pregnancy, center disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon).¹ People who are underweight are also at risk for serious wellness problems.²

The key to achieving and maintaining a salubrious weight isn't nearly short-term dietary changes. Information technology's about a lifestyle that includes salubrious eating and regular physical activeness.

If you are underweight, overweight, or obese, talk with your md nearly means to accomplish and maintain a healthy weight before you lot get pregnant.

Learn more virtually good for you weight »

7. Get Assistance for Violence

Violence tin can lead to injury and decease among women at any stage of life, including during pregnancy. The number of violent deaths experienced by women tells only function of the story. Many more survive violence and are left with lifelong physical and emotional scars.

If someone is trigger-happy toward you or you are violent toward your loved ones―get assist. Violence destroys relationships and families.

Learn well-nigh violence prevention »

eight. Learn Your Family History

Collecting your family's health history tin be important for your child's health. You might not realize that your sis's eye defect or your cousin'due south sickle cell illness could affect your child, but sharing this family history information with your doc can be important.

Other reasons people get for genetic counseling include having had several miscarriages, infant deaths, trouble getting pregnant (infertility), or a genetic condition or nascence defect that occurred during a previous pregnancy.

Learn more about family history »

Learn more than nearly genetic counseling »

9. Become Mentally Healthy

Mental health is how we think, feel, and act every bit we cope with life. To be at your best, you need to feel good virtually your life and value yourself. Anybody feels worried, anxious, sad, or stressed sometimes. However, if these feelings do not go away and they interfere with your daily life, go help. Talk with your doctor or another health professional person about your feelings and treatment options.

Larn most mental health »external icon

Acquire about depression »

10. Have a Healthy Pregnancy!

Once you are pregnant, be sure to go on upwards all of your new healthy habits and see your doctor regularly throughout pregnancy for prenatal care.

Acquire how to have a healthy pregnancy »

References

1. NIH, NHLBI Obesity Educational activity Initiative. Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. Bachelor online:
   http://world wide web.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_gdlns.pdfpdf icon external icon (PDF-ane.25Mb)
2. Moos, Merry-1000, et al. Healthier women, healthier reproductive outcomes: recommendations for the routine care of all women of reproductive age. AJOG Book 199, Issue vi, Supplement B , Pages S280-S289, December 2008.

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Source: https://www.cdc.gov/preconception/planning.html

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