If you are contemplating pregnancy, you may want to take some time to consider the many implications of your decision. Pregnancy and child-rearing represent major events in the life cycle of women and families and should be undertaken with a thorough understanding of the emotional, physical, and practical consequences. There are several important steps you can take to help improve your chances for a successful pregancy. Your healthcare provider can help guide you through this process. Below are some simple guidelines for a healthy pregnancy.

Taking a daily multivitamin with 400-800 micrograms of folic acid for at least 3 months before becoming pregnant can prevent some birth defects and pre-term labor (certain women may receive different dosing recommendations for folic acid depending on pregnancy history). Other general recommendations supported by the CDC and other agencies are the following:

• Stop smoking.
• Stop drinking alcohol.
• Limit caffeine intake.
• Get medical conditions under control including: asthma, diabetes, obesity, epilepsy, high blood pressure, and oral health
• Make sure vaccinations are up-to-date
• Stay away from chemicals and toxins
• Check with your doctor about any medications or supplements you are taking

During pregnancy:
The health measures recommended for women contemplating pregnancy (shown above) are also applicable to pregnant women. Other recommendations for healthy pregnancy include:

• Consuming only pasteurized dairy products
• Avoiding people with infections
• Not sharing food or utensils with infected people
• Consuming meat that has been cooked thoroughly until it is well-done
• Limiting consumption of fish that is likely to be high in mercury content
• Not touching or changing cat litter
• Avoiding rodents and their droppings
• Thorough handwashing (especially in connection with cooking, diaper changing, using the bathroom, gardening, handling pets, being around children or sick people)

The prenatal care you receive during pregnancy is vital for your health and the health of your baby. There are routine and special aspects to this care depending upon your particular health issues. Your healthcare provider will schedule routine visits and extra visits as necessary to monitor you and your baby during pregnancy.

At your first prenatal visit, you can expect to discuss your health history with your doctor and undergo a general physical examination including blood pressure measurement and pelvic exam. Usual tests include a screen for anemia, HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted diseases. A check of your blood type and a screen for immunity to rubella (German measles) is also typically performed. Additional testing may be advised including cystic fibrosis screening, an ultrasound exam, and prenatal screening for birth defects and genetic disorders. This first visit is also a good time to address your general questions concerning exercise, diet, work schedules, and stress management.

At subsequent routine prenatal visits, your healthcare provider will perform a general assessment of your well-being including a weight check and an examination for swelling of the extremities. Blood pressure and urine protein and sugar will also be measured to screen for diabetes or blood pressure complications of pregnancy. At some point, a urine culture will be obtained to check for the presence of bacteria. Your provider can assess the baby's condition by checking the fetal heart beat and measuring the growth of the uterus. At about eight months, a screening test for Group B Strep is usually done. This is a bacteria that can be transmitted to your newborn and lead to serious illness. If you carry this bacteria, antibiotics can be given during labor to prevent transmission to your baby.