Table of Contents
- Overview
- Prevention
- Images
Information
You should try to follow healthy habits from the time you are trying to get pregnant all the way through your pregnancy. Do not smoke or use illegal drugs, stop drinking alcohol, and limit caffeine and coffee. Talk to your doctor about any medications you may be taking to see if they can affect your unborn baby. Eat a well-balanced diet and take at least 400 mcg of folic acid a day.
If you have any chronic medical problems (such as
Seeing a prenatal provider before trying to get pregnant or early in the pregnancy can help prevent, or detect and control health risks to the mother and fetus during pregnancy.
Men need to be careful, too. Smoking and alcohol may cause problems with the unborn baby. Smoking, alcohol, and marijuana use have also been shown to lower
Images
Review Date: 09/02/2009
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine; and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget
Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of
Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
