Pregnant or Not
Preconception Care
Preconception care is the promotion of the health and well-being of a woman and her partner before pregnancy.
Preconception care helps to reduce maternal illness, cesarean births, low birth weights, the occurrence of developmental disabilities and preterm births. Outlined below are some of the basics of preconceptual health.
- Take a multivitamin with at least 400 mcg of folic acidy daily.
- Eat right and maintain a healthy weight
- Get plenty of exercise and reduce stress
- Schedule regular health and dental checkups
- Ask you doctor about any medications you currently take
- If you smoke, use alcohol or drugs, stop
- Avoid secondhand smoke
- Limit exposure to toxic chemicals, hazardous substances, and cat litter
- Know your family's health history
- Know your status regarding sexually transmitted infections
Related Resources
Folic Acid Information: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/features/folicacid
Preconception Information: Preparing for a Lifetime
http://www.ok.gov/health/Child_and_Family_Health/Improving_Infant_Outcomes/index.html