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Preconception planning: Is your body ready for pregnancy?
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What type of birth control have you been using?
Are your vaccines current?
Do you have any chronic medical conditions?
Are you taking any medications or supplements?
Are you at risk of a sexually transmitted infection?
Do you have a family history of any specific medical conditions?
How old are you and your partner?
Have you been pregnant before?
Does your current lifestyle support a healthy pregnancy?
Are you taking any medications or supplements?
Tell your health care provider about any medications, herbs or supplements you're taking. Depending on the product, your health care provider might recommend changing doses, switching to something else or stopping the product before you conceive.
This is also the time to start taking folic acid. The baby's neural tube — which becomes the brain and spinal cord — develops during the first month of pregnancy, possibly before you even know that you're pregnant. Taking folic acid — ideally starting three months before conception — helps prevent neural tube defects.
