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Preconception planning: Is your body ready for pregnancy?

Preconception planning can help you and your partner understand how to boost your chances of a healthy pregnancy. Here's what to expect during a preconception appointment.

By Mayo Clinic staff

If you've decided to get pregnant, you may already be emotionally prepared to have a baby. Now it's time to find out if your body is ready for the task ahead.

Depending on your health, immunizations and method of contraception, preconception planning up to a year in advance may be helpful. To help ensure a healthy pregnancy, schedule a preconception appointment with your health care provider as soon as you begin thinking about pregnancy. Be ready to answer the following questions.

What type of birth control have you been using?

If you've been taking birth control pills, your health care provider may recommend a pill-free break before trying to conceive. This will allow your reproductive system to go through several normal cycles before you conceive, which will make it easier to determine when ovulation occurred and establish an expected due date. During the pill-free break, you may want to use condoms or another barrier method of contraception. Your fertility may return to normal two weeks after you stop taking the pill.

If you've been using a long-term method of birth control, such as contraceptive injection (Depo-Provera), you can try to conceive as soon as you stop using birth control — but it may take several months for fertility to return.

Are your vaccines current?

Infections such as chickenpox (varicella), German measles (rubella) and hepatitis B can be dangerous for an unborn baby. If your immunizations aren't complete or you're not sure if you're immune to certain infections, your preconception care may include one or more vaccines — preferably at least one month before you try to conceive.

Do you have any chronic medical conditions?

If you have a chronic medical condition — such as diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure — make sure it's under control before you conceive. In some cases, your health care provider may recommend adjusting your medication or other treatments before pregnancy. Your health care provider also will explain any special care you may need during pregnancy.

Are you taking any medications or supplements?

Tell your health care provider about any medications, herbs or supplements you're taking. He or she may recommend changing doses or stopping them completely before you conceive.

This is also the time to start taking prenatal vitamins. Why so early? 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 prenatal vitamins before conception is the best way to help prevent neural tube defects.

Are you at risk of a sexually transmitted infection?

Sexually transmitted infections can increase the risk of infertility, ectopic pregnancy — when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube — and other pregnancy complications. If you're at risk of a sexually transmitted infection, your health care provider may recommend preconception screening and treatment.

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References
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  2. Preconception care questions and answers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/preconception/QandA.htm. Accessed Jan. 18, 2010.
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  6. Routine prenatal care. Bloomington, Minn.: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. http://www.icsi.org/prenatal_care_4/prenatal_care__routine__full_version__2.html. Accessed Feb. 5, 2010.
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  8. Preconception care: Your checkup before pregnancy. http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/173_27541.asp. Accessed Feb. 5, 2010.
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HQ01251 May 29, 2010

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