FAQ's
The months before you get pregnant are the best time to take steps to be healthier. These steps may include:
- Eating a healthy diet and taking a prenatal vitamin
- Getting regular exercise
- Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight
- Stopping unhealthy substances (tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, and prescription drugs taken for a nonmedical reason)
- Keeping your environment safe
Use of substances—tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, and prescription drugs taken for a nonmedical reason—can cause serious problems for your pregnancy and your fetus, including:
- Birth defects
- Low birth weight
- Preterm birth
- Stillbirth
Substance use includes taking drugs such as heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamines. It also includes using oxycodone or other opioids in ways that were not prescribed for you. If you use any of these substances, now is the time to quit. Stopping before pregnancy also can give you time to seek help if you have issues with substance use or dependence.
Your partner and anyone else you live with should not smoke around you during pregnancy. Secondhand smoke can expose your fetus to toxic chemicals. Secondhand smoke also has been linked to an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
If you have a male partner, he should give up harmful substances before you try to get pregnant. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs may damage a man’s sperm cells and have harmful effects on the fetus.
Certain infections during pregnancy can cause birth defects or pregnancy complications. Many infections can be prevented with vaccination. It’s best to get all of the vaccines recommended for your age before you try to get pregnant because some cannot be given during pregnancy.
Two vaccines that are especially important for pregnant women are the flu vaccine and the Tdap vaccine (whooping cough). The flu shot and the Tdap shot are safe during pregnancy.
- Previous preterm birth – let your doctor know if you have ever had a baby early in the past
- If you have had a preterm baby in the past, let your doctor know right away. It is also important that you discuss any sexually transmitted infections, chronic conditions (such as high blood pressure or diabetes), and habits such as smoking, drinking or drug use. All of these factors can increase the chances of preterm birth and other poor birth outcomes – but your doctor can help you decrease your risk.
- Low or high maternal age – younger than 18 or older than 35
- High blood pressure
- Gaining too much or too little weight while you are pregnant
- Stress
- Smoking
Having babies too close together. Waiting at least 18 months between pregnancies can lower your risk of preterm birth by 40 percent.
Our Women’s Health Clinic provides pregnancy testing and can also help qualify you for temporary Medicaid coverage if you do not have health insurance and you are pregnant. Click here for more information.
If you have had a preterm baby in the past, let your doctor know right away. It is also important that you discuss any sexually transmitted infections, chronic conditions (such as high blood pressure or diabetes), and habits such as smoking, drinking or drug use. All of these factors can increase the chances of preterm birth and other poor birth outcomes – but your doctor can help you decrease your risk.
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