Kristie McNealy, MD

If you’re thinking about having a baby, or maybe you’re already trying, did you know that there are things you can do before you ever get pregnant that can help you have a healthier pregnancy? Check out these 5 tips for getting a healthy head start to your pregnancy below:

1. Start taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid. Folic acid is proven to help prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida, if it is taken very early in pregnancy,before most women even know they are pregnant. In addition, recent research has shown that taking a folic acid supplement for a year before conception can reduce your risk of delivering a premature baby by 50-70%.




2. Visit your doctor. Pay a visit to your gynecologist for an annual exam. The last thing you need during your pregnancy, is the added stress of an abnormal pap smear or something similar. Plus, you can use the visit to discuss your plans to start trying to conceive, and address any current health concerns or problems with previous pregnancies.




3. Give your body time to recuperate. You may want your kids to be close in age, but studies show that the optimum timing between pregnancies to reduce your risk of having a low birth weight or premature baby is 18 months to 5 years.




4. Quit smoking. Quitting smoking is hard, so give yourself enough time to make the change. Smoking during pregnancy is linked to low birth weight,and an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. While you’re at it, you might want to start weaning yourself off caffeine too, since a recent study indicates that consuming more than two servings of coffee a day might double your risk of having a miscarriage.




5. Find your healthy weight, and maintain it with a healthy diet. Both overweight and underweight women are at an increased risk for pregnancy complications. Women who are underweight have an elevated risk of having a preemie or low birth weight baby. Obese women have an increased risk of complications during delivery, as well as an increased risk of high blood pressure and gestational diabetes. These problems can have serious consequences for baby too, causing an increased risk of still birth as well as problems after delivery.

Once you’re pregnant, call your doctor or midwife, and get appropriate prenatal care. While nothing can guarantee a perfectly healthy pregnancy, following some simple advice can give both you and your baby the best chance.

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