What Is Prenatal Care Before Pregnancy?

Prenatal care is health care that helps ensure a woman and her baby will be as healthy as possible. Ideally, it should start before a pregnancy begins.

Getting good prenatal care — also called pre-pregnancy care or preconception care — can make it easier to get pregnant, have a healthy pregnancy, and have a healthy baby.

It's best to see your health care provider for a complete checkup even before you start planning a pregnancy. The doctor can make sure you're in good health and that you don't have any illnesses or other conditions that could affect a pregnancy. If you've been having any unusual symptoms, this is a good time to report them.

If you're already being treated for a condition — such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, a heart problem, allergies, lupus, depression, or another condition — talk to your doctor about whether it could affect a pregnancy. It’s also important to talk about any previous pregnancy problems you've had.

You may need to change or stop some medicines or supplements — especially during the first trimester (12 weeks) — to reduce risk to the fetus. Or you may need to be even more careful about managing your condition. For example, women with diabetes must take extra care to keep their blood sugar levels under control — both before they try to conceive and during pregnancy.

This is also a good time to talk with your health care provider about any habits that could be a risk to a baby, such as drinking alcohol, smoking, or using other unhealthy substances.

Ask about taking a prenatal vitamin that has folic acid, calcium, and iron. Taking vitamins with folic acid before and during pregnancy can help prevent neural tube defects (problems with the development of the spine and nervous system) that can happen in the first 28 days of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she's pregnant.

If you or your partner have a family history of a genetic disorder and think either of you may be a carrier, genetic testing might be a good idea. Talk about this with your health care provider, who can refer you to a genetic counselor if necessary.

It's also wise to talk about your mental health issues, and how to stay safe at home and at work.

Before pregnancy is a good time to:

• Start cutting back on caffeine.
• Eat a balanced, healthy diet.
• Exercise regularly.

Also, make sure your vaccines are up to date and get your annual flu shot.

If you find out that you're pregnant before you do all this, don't worry. It's not too late to get the care that you and your baby need.