The best time to start worrying about the health of your baby is before you even conceive, says this article from the Deseret News. Chronic medical conditions need to be brought under control, and a woman planning to get pregnant needs to change bad habits before conception to ensure a healthy baby.
High blood pressure, seizure disorders, thyroid disease and diabetes can all have an enormous impact on pregnancy, so anyone with these conditions must get pre-conception counseling, says the article. These woman may need to change their prescriptions because some drugs are harmful to a developing fetus.
Two products that are particularly harmful are alcoholic drinks and cigarettes. This article from BabyCenter.com offers tips on how to quit smoking before getting pregnant.
Good nutrition is also important. Pregnant women need to eat a varied diet and be particularly aware of their calcium intake, reports this article from the U.K.'s BabyCentre.
Women should also try to get to a healthy weight before conceiving, and make sure they're taking a multi-vitamin approved by their doctor. Before pregnancy is also a good time to have any dental work done, says this article from ParenthoodWeb.com.
