Planning for Your Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a major event in a woman's life. If you are planning to have a baby, getting ready begins even before you become pregnant. When pregnancy is planned in advance, a woman can make decisions which will benefit both her own health, as well as the health of her baby. Many women do not know that they are pregnant until five, six, or even eight weeks into the pregnancy. These early weeks are very important ones for the baby, as it is during this time that the baby's body and internal organs are formed. By following the suggestions in this checklist before you conceive, you can help to ensure a healthy pregnancy, and a healthy, happy baby.

For both parents ...

Visit your obstetrician or health care provider at least once. This is the time to talk about your medical history, ask questions, and find out if any tests are recommended. This preconception visit is especially important if you have had problems with a previous pregnancy. Stop using birth control. If you have been using birth control pills, your doctor can tell you how long to wait before trying to conceive. Birth control pills do not cause birth defects, no matter how close to conception you stop using them. If you are using an IUD, have it removed before trying to conceive. If pregnancy occurs with an IUD in place it can be harmful. Stop smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking street drugs. There is scientific evidence that all of these substances used by the mother can cause problems in the pregnancy and even birth defects. If you are taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs, be sure to tell your physician. Avoid toxic substances, chemicals, and radiation at home or at work. Exposure to these by either partner can make it difficult to become pregnant and can harm the fetus. Ask your parents if there is a family history of problem pregnancies or birth defects. If you have reason to be concerned about a genetic disorder or inherited disease, you may want to contact a genetic counselor.

For women only ...

Try to achieve your normal weight before attempting to conceive. It is important not to be underweight or overweight during pregnancy. Underweight women tend to have smaller babies — who have more problems during labor and after delivery. Overweight women are more likely to develop high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy. However it is important not to diet during pregnancy. Make sure you get enough of the B vitamin folic acid on a daily basis. Studies have shown that birth defects of the spine and brain, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, can occur if the mother does not get sufficient folic acid during the first few weeks of pregnancy. Folic acid is contained in many foods and in multivitamin supplements as well as prenatal vitamins. If you have diabetes, make sure it is being treated. Although women with insulin-dependent diabetes have a higher risk of miscarriage and of having a baby with a birth defect, if the blood sugar is controlled before and during pregnancy, chances of delivering a healthy baby are excellent. If you have ever had rubella (German measles), it is advisable to be vaccinated prior to becoming pregnant. If you do get vaccinated, you should delay trying to get pregnant for three months. You should not get vaccinated during pregnancy. If contracted during pregnancy, rubella can cause birth defects. Avoid eating undercooked meat or handling cat litter. These are known sources of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can seriously affect the fetus.

Patrick Finnegan, M.D., is a board certified OB/GYN and has been practicing at Longmont Clinic since October 1993.