A preconception checklist is an important tool that can help ensure a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. It is a list of things that couples should do before they start trying to conceive, such as making sure they are up to date on their vaccinations, quitting smoking, and getting enough folic acid.
Visit your healthcare provider to discuss any health issues, medications, or vaccinations that need to be addressed before trying to conceive.
Smoking can harm both you and your baby during pregnancy, so it's important to quit before getting pregnant.
Drinking alcohol can harm the developing fetus, so it's important to limit your alcohol intake or stop drinking altogether before trying to conceive.
Being underweight or overweight can affect your fertility and increase the risk of pregnancy complications, so try to maintain a healthy weight before getting pregnant.
Folic acid is important for the development of the neural tube, which forms the baby's brain and spinal cord. Take a daily supplement of 400-800 micrograms of folic acid before and during pregnancy.
If you have a chronic health condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, work with your healthcare provider to manage it before getting pregnant.
Untreated STIs can affect fertility and increase the risk of pregnancy complications, so get tested and treated if necessary.
Some medications can be harmful during pregnancy, so review your medications with your healthcare provider before trying to conceive.
High levels of stress can affect fertility and increase the risk of pregnancy complications, so try to reduce stress before getting pregnant.
Discuss your expectations and goals for parenting with your partner to ensure you're on the same page before getting pregnant.
A preconception checklist can help identify any health issues that may affect pregnancy or the health of the baby, help couples make healthy lifestyle choices, and help couples prepare for the financial and emotional demands of having a child.
It's a good idea to start using a preconception checklist several months before you plan to start trying to conceive.
A preconception checklist may include items such as scheduling a preconception checkup, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough folic acid, managing chronic health conditions, checking for sexually transmitted infections, reviewing your medications, reducing stress, and discussing your parenting goals.
It's recommended that you wait one to three months after stopping hormonal birth control before trying to conceive to allow your body to return to its natural menstrual cycle.
A preconception checklist is an important tool that can help couples prepare for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. By taking the time to complete the checklist, couples can identify any health or lifestyle issues that may affect their ability to conceive or have a healthy pregnancy, and take steps to address them before trying to conceive.
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