The conversation around pregnancy tends to focus on what happens after conception. However, the months leading up to it matter just as much, and a few changes before you start trying provide a stronger foundation going into this next step.
At Jersey Women’s Care Center in Fair Lawn and Jersey City, New Jersey, our team works with women in the preconception phase to address potential concerns early and give them the best possible foundation for pregnancy.
A preconception visit is the most useful first step and one that many women skip. It provides our team with an opportunity to review your health history, screen for conditions that could impact your pregnancy, update vaccinations, and discuss any medications you’re taking that may need adjustments.
From there, these seven steps go a long way toward preparing your body.
Folic acid is the most well-documented preconception supplement. The neural tube, which develops into the brain and spinal cord, forms in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before you even know you’re pregnant.
Getting at least 400 micrograms of folic acid daily for at least one month before conception reduces the risk of neural tube defects by 50% or more.
Some prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal supplements aren’t safe during pregnancy. Others need to be tapered rather than stopped abruptly.
Bring a complete list of all medications and supplements you take to your preconception visit so your provider can identify anything that may need to be adjusted.
Both low body weight and excess weight affect fertility and increase your risk of complications during pregnancy. Obesity is associated with higher rates of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and cesarean delivery. Reaching a stable weight before conceiving is safer than trying to lose weight during pregnancy.
Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disorders, and autoimmune diseases need to be well-managed before pregnancy. Poorly controlled chronic conditions increase your risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and complications for both mother and baby.
Our team may want to adjust your treatment plan or coordinate with a specialist before you start trying.
Smoking reduces fertility, increases your risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, and is linked to preterm birth and low birth weight.
Alcohol has no established safe level during pregnancy, and most providers recommend stopping before you conceive rather than waiting until a positive test. If stopping feels difficult, your provider can connect you with resources.
You don’t need a perfect diet, but nutrition before pregnancy affects how your body handles the demands of the first trimester before you’ve even had a chance to adjust your eating habits.
Increasing iron-rich foods reduces your risk of anemia, which is common during pregnancy. Cutting back on high-mercury fish such as swordfish and tilefish matters because mercury accumulates in your tissue and can affect fetal neurological development.
A varied diet with plenty of leafy greens, lean protein, and whole grains covers most of your nutritional bases.
Understanding your cycle helps you identify your fertile window (when you ovulate) and can reveal irregularities. Cycles that are consistently very short, very long, or irregular may point to an underlying hormonal issue that affects ovulation. Tracking a few cycles before you start trying gives our team useful information if conception takes longer than expected.
Most healthy women conceive within a year of trying. If you’re under 35 and haven’t conceived after 12 months of regular unprotected sex, or you’re over 35 and haven’t conceived after six months, consider an evaluation.
Our team at Jersey Women’s Care Center can assess both partners and determine whether further testing or referral makes sense. Call our office or use our online booking tool to schedule a preconception visit today.
