Preparing for pregnancy

There are many things you can do before you get pregnant to have a healthy pregnancy and give your baby a good start in life.

• Healthy lifestyle before pregnancy
  • Get regular exercise
  • Get plenty of rest
  • Enjoy healthy foods
  • Limit caffeine to 1-2 cups of coffee, tea or soda a day
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Quit smoking
  • Stop using illegal drugs and medications not prescribed to you
  • Avoid chemicals which can be found in some plastic bottles and canned foods (such as PBA)
  • Avoid fish with high levels of mercury. You can safety eat up to 12 ounces of a low-mercury fish a week (e.g. trout, salmon, tilapia and catfish)

• Get your body ready
  • Start taking 400 to 800 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day at least a month before pregnancy
  • Keep track of your periods so you’ll know when you’re most fertile. You can also try the fertility calculator on kp.org
  • Get your teeth and gums healthy before pregnancy. Visit your dentist to get needed work done.
  • Get tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

• Schedule a visit with your doctor to talk about:
  • Getting medical conditions under good control
  • Making sure your medications are safe for your baby
  • Intimate partner violence
  • Genetic screening, especially if your family has a history of genetic disorders
  • Immunizations you may need