An Overview of Preconception
Preconception is a very exciting time for you and your partner, as you have decided to take the next step in your relationship by planning for a baby! There are several things that you can do during this preconception period, including:
- Take folic acid
- Monitor your diet
- Make lifestyle adjustments
- Address health issues
- Begin fertility planning.
Also, if you are thinking about getting pregnant, or you are able to get pregnant, try to take care of your health as much as you can. Keep in mind that one-half of all pregnancies are not planned, and women often don't realize that they are pregnant during the first couple of weeks. These are good reasons why you should always take care of your health. Your baby is counting on you for the best start at life.
Folic Acid During Preconception
During preconception (and in early pregnancy), it is important to get enough folic acid.
Research has shown that folic acid (or folate) can help keep your baby from having serious birth defects.
If you don't get enough folic acid, your baby's spine may not form right, resulting in a condition called
spina bifida. Also, without enough folic acid, your baby's brain may not form or may only partly form -- a condition called anencephaly. All of these defects occur during the first 28 days of pregancy -- usually before a woman even knows she's pregnant.
Get 400 micrograms (or 0.4 mg) of folic acid daily from foods fortified with folic acid, from a vitamin, or from a folic acid pill before you get pregnant. If you are taking a vitamin or a folic acid pill, continue to take it during the first three months of your pregnancy. The folic acid is very important in the early development of your baby -- generally during the time you will not know you are pregnant.
Many doctors will prescribe a vitamin for you that has folic acid (many
prenatal vitamins have folic acid in them). But you also can buy vitamins or folic acid pills at the drugstore or grocery store. Taking folic acid in a pill is the best way to be sure you're getting enough. You could get your folic acid through food alone, but it is hard to know if you're getting enough. Some foods with folate include:
- Leafy green vegetables
- Kidney beans
- Orange juice and other citrus fruits
- Strawberries
- Peanuts
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Peas
- Lentils
- Whole grain products.
Folic acid is also added to some foods like enriched breads, pastas, rice, and cereals.
During preconception, start watching what you eat. While trying to get pregnant, load up on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (such as whole-wheat breads or crackers). Eat plenty of calcium-rich foods (such as nonfat or low-fat yogurt, milk, and broccoli) that your baby needs for strong bones and teeth.
If you live in areas where fruits and vegetables aren't in season, frozen vegetables are a good option. Avoid eating a lot of fatty foods (such as butter and fatty meats). Choose leaner foods when you can (such as skim milk, chicken and turkey without the skin, and fish).
Lifestyle Changes as a Preconception Measure
During the preconception period, there are some lifestyle adjustments you should consider making:
- Tell your doctor if you smoke or use alcohol or drugs. Quitting is hard, but you can do it. Ask your doctor for help.
- Get enough sleep (try to get seven to nine hours every night).
- If you can, control the stress in your life. When it comes to things like work and family, figure out what you can really do. Set limits with yourself and others. Don't be afraid to say "no" to requests for your time and energy.
- Move your body. Once you get pregnant, you cannot increase your exercise routine by much, so it's best to start before the baby is on the way.
Health Problems and Preconception
During this preconception period, get any health problems under control. Talk to your doctor about how your health problems might affect you and your baby while pregnant. If you have
diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels. If you have
high blood pressure, monitor these levels as well. If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about what a healthy weight is for you. Talk to your doctor about how your health problems might affect you and your baby while pregnant. There are things both you and your doctor can do to help you have a safe pregnancy and healthy baby.
During preconception, also ask your mother, aunts, grandmother, and sisters about their pregnancies:
- Did they have morning sickness?
- Problems with labor?
- How did they cope with them?
Find out which health problems run in your family, and tell your doctor about them. You can get tested before getting pregnant for some health problems that run in families (this is called genetic testing).
Make sure you have had all of your immunizations (shots), especially for
rubella (German
measles). If you haven't had
chickenpox or rubella, get the shots at least three months before getting pregnant.
Get checked for
hepatitis B and
hepatitis C, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and
HIV during preconception. These conditions can harm both you and your baby. Tell your doctor if you or your sex partners have ever had an STD or HIV.
Go over all of the medicines you take (prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines you buy without prescriptions, and herbal supplements) with your doctor, and ask if they are safe to take while you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant.
Ask your partner to limit how much alcohol he drinks. If he uses illegal drugs or smokes, encourage him to quit. Studies show that men who drink a lot, smoke, or use drugs can have problems with their sperm. These might cause you to have problems getting pregnant.
While planning to conceive, you may choose natural planning methods, such as the ovulation method (intercourse takes place just before or after ovulation) or the symptothermal method (evaluating fertility based on your daily temperature).
Remember: Women are more likely to become pregnant if intercourse takes place just before or just after ovulation. This is because the unfertilized egg can live for only 12 to 24 hours in your body.
If you have been trying for a few months with no results, don't get discouraged. Only 20 percent of women who are trying to get pregnant are successful on the first attempt, so don't lose hope or assume something is wrong.
Preconception and Infertility
Women today are often delaying having children until later in life, when they are in their 30s and 40s. While many women in their 30s and 40s have no problems getting pregnant, fertility does decline with age. If you are over 40 and have not become pregnant after six months of trying, you should see your doctor for a fertility evaluation.
It is common to have trouble becoming pregnant or to experience infertility (technically, the inability to become pregnant after trying for one year). Overall, there are about 2.1 million married couples in America experiencing infertility, and some 9 million women have used fertility treatments. If you think that you or your partner may have an infertility issue, you can discuss this with a healthcare provider who can recommend treatments such as drugs, surgery, or assisted reproductive technology.
(Click Infertility to read more information on this topic.)
Preconception: Consider Adoption and Foster Care
If infertility is a problem for you, other options you may want to consider are adoption and foster care. Adopting or becoming a foster parent could be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
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