Preparing for a healthy pregnancy

By Healthwise

If you are planning to become pregnant soon, there are several things you can do to ensure your own and your baby's optimal health.

Evaluate your birth control method

If you use an intrauterine device (IUD), arrange to have it removed. If you have been taking the pill (oral contraception) or using monthly hormone injections (such as Depo-Provera or Lunelle), try to wait until you've had your first full menstrual period before trying to conceive. This usually takes a month or two. When you do start your period, write down the date of the first day of your menstrual flow. Using the date of your last menstrual period (LMP) before a pregnancy is the easiest way to calculate your fetus's age since conception. In turn, fetal age is important to know when making a number of testing, treatment, and delivery decisions.

If you do happen to get pregnant shortly after stopping the pill, don't worry. Various studies have found that oral contraception use just before a pregnancy doesn't increase the risks of miscarriage or fetal problems. In fact, women who have used oral contraception have a slightly lower rate of miscarriage than women who have not used oral contraception.

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