Preconception Care

Preconception care is a general term used to describe how you take care of yourself before you get pregnant as well as any medical care you receive or require before getting pregnant. Women with health issues have more complex preconception care requirements than the average women. For example, a woman with high blood pressure or diabetes will need to carefully monitor medication intake and take steps to reduce sugar levels or blood pressure before trying to conceive. A woman with any type of mental health issues that require medication will likely also require specialized medical care and monitoring before getting pregnant.

Here is some general information about what any woman can do to promote a healthy pregnancy regardless of previous medical conditions.

When to Start Preconception Care

The National Health Service (NHS) in England says that an overall health assessment of you and your partner before you try to conceive is a good idea. A healthcare professional can provide a general assessment of your health, fitness level and lifestyle. Based on this assessment, he or she will be able to identify any areas you may want to consider improving. This assessment is not meant to identify any infertility issues and you'll need specific testing to provide answers to reasons why you haven't conceived within a certain time frame, depending on your age.

According to the NHS, a man's sperm will become mature 100 days before you conceive. So if you and your partner wish to be in peak health before getting pregnant, it's important to make sure you give yourself plenty of time. Give yourself at least six months.

General Tips

Folic acid is important in helping prevent certain types of diseases and deformities specifically in preventing neural tube defects. Many health practitioners recommend taking folic acid supplements three months before getting pregnant and at least during the first three months of pregnancy. Make sure you get at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.

Make sure your vaccinations are up to date before getting pregnant. Certain diseases can do irreparable damage to your developing child if you get them while pregnant. Take all precautions to avoid these illnesses if you can. Examples of immunizations to make sure you have include chicken pox and rubella.

Live an overall healthy lifestyle with good diet and regular physical activity. Quit smoking and recreational drug use. Limit alcohol intake. Completely eliminate alcohol once you are actively trying to conceive unless you know for sure you're not pregnant. There's no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy and it's better to be overly cautious than to be the cause of any problem that's completely preventable.

To Get More Information

Contact a healthcare professional if you would like more detailed information about preconception care. Any general practitioner (GP) is qualified to provide this information. You may also be able to get information at family planning clinics, practices nurses, well-woman clinics and from health visitors.