Facts you need to know about pregnancy planning

• Many women choose to begin planning for pregnancy before conception so that potential toxic exposures to the fetus can be reduced.
• Women or couples who have an increased risk or a family history of genetic (inherited) diseases can undergo genetic counseling as a step in planning pregnancy.
• For best results, chronic medical conditions should be treated and under good control before trying to conceive.
• Quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol or illegal drug use greatly improve a woman’s chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a baby.
• How much weight a woman should gain during pregnancy depends in part on her pre-pregnancy weight.
• Once a woman stops using contraception, she is able to become pregnant. Some long-acting hormonal contraceptives may require a period of time for the hormonal effects to wear off.
• Women who are planning to become pregnant should take a folic acid supplement to reduce the possibility of the fetus developing neural tube defects.
• Some types of fish may be high in mercury or other toxins and are not recommended for pregnant women.
• Exercising is part of a healthy lifestyle and is recommended for most pregnant women with an uncomplicated pregnancy.
• It is important to review all medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter (OTC), with your healthcare professional if you are planning to become pregnant.
• Sexual activity is safe for most pregnant women.
• Some infectious diseases, including Zika virus, rubella, toxoplasmosis, and parvovirus B19 can be dangerous to an unborn baby.
• Women who are not immune to the rubella virus should be vaccinated before trying to conceive.
• Women infected with HIV or hepatitis B viruses can receive medications during pregnancy or at birth to reduce the chance of passing these infections on to their newborns.

For many women, planning for pregnancy begins even before conception. Others choose to start planning when they are aware of pregnancy. While it is possible to have a healthy pregnancy and baby without a pregnancy plan, creating a pregnancy plan is one way to help ensure that your baby has the greatest chances of being healthy and having a healthy pregnancy. Pregnancy planning usually includes:

• Discussions with the woman’s partner and her health care team, and includes discussions about nutrition and vitamins, exercise, genetic counseling, weight gain, and the need to avoid certain medications and alcohol.
• Sometimes pregnancy planning includes fertility planning and scheduling intercourse for the time when a woman is most fertile of the month. Couples who have regular intercourse and are still not producing usually consult a fertility specialist. Doctors generally recommend that healthy couples under the age of 35 try to conceive for a year before consulting a fertility specialist. Women over the age of 35 may want to see a fertility specialist after 6 months of trying to conceive.
• Because some women experience light bleeding known as implantation bleeding around the time of their expected menstrual period, or due to irregular menstrual cycles, some women may not realize they are pregnant until specific pregnancy symptoms begin to appear. By this time, the woman may have inadvertently exposed herself to substances that could be harmful to the pregnancy. Women who choose to begin planning for pregnancy before they become pregnant can take steps to ensure they avoid potentially harmful exposures.