I am thinking about getting pregnant. How can I take care of myself?

You should start taking care of yourself before you start trying to get pregnant. By staying active, eating right, and taking a multivitamin, you can help keep yourself and your baby healthy even before it is conceived. This will help you have a healthy pregnancy and lower your chances of having a baby born with a birth defect.

Here are some ways to take care of yourself before you get pregnant:

Eat healthy foods, exercise regularly (30 minutes per day most days of the week is best), and get enough rest and sleep. Talk to your doctor about what kinds of food and exercise are best for you.
Get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid (one of the B vitamins) every day. The best way to do this is to take a daily multivitamin with this amount of folic acid. Getting enough folic acid every day before you get pregnant and during early pregnancy can help prevent certain birth defects. Many breakfast cereals and other grain products are enriched with folic acid. But only some products contain 400 mcg of folic acid per serving. Always check the labels to be sure you’re getting your daily dose.
See your doctor for a complete check up. Make sure that you’ve had all your shots, especially for rubella (German measles). Rubella can cause serious birth defects. Chickenpox can also be dangerous during pregnancy. If you’ve had chickenpox and rubella in the past, you should be immune to them. If not, talk to your doctor about the vaccines.
Tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medicines (including herbal remedies) you are taking. Some medicines are not safe to take during pregnancy.
Stop smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs. Ask your doctor for help. Members of your faith community, counselors, or friends can also give support.

Fertility Testing

How can fertility be tested? Of course you must see your doctor in order for fertility to be tested. Usually the first tests focus on the man. A sample of the man’s sperm is tested for shape, mobility, and quantity. Blood tests are usually taken from both the woman and the man to check hormones, and to check for any infection. These tests on the male can include:

A test to see if the sperm can swim through mucus (called a mucus penetrance test)
An x-ray of the mans reproductive organs
A hamster-egg penetrance assay (to see if the sperm can penetrate a hamster egg cell, similar to penetrating female egg cells)

The first consideration for the female is determining if her menstrual cycle is regular and if ovulation is actually occurring.

There are a few ways to determine whether you are ovulating:

By using a home ovulation kit (available at a pharmacy) to chart changes in her morning temperature.
Examination of her cervical mucus which changes throughout her cycle
Ultrasound of her ovaries
Blood tests for hormone levels

If no problem is found with the woman’s ovulation, other tests can be done:

An exam of the fallopian tubes for disease
An exam to verify the fallopian tubes are open
An exam of the uterus to check its shape and position, or disease
An exam of other reproductive organs for infection or disease
A biopsy of the uterine lining

What is infertility?

Couples who have been trying to get pregnant for a year or more, but have been unsuccessful (this applies to women age 34 and under)
Couples who have been trying to get pregnant for 6 months or more and are age 35 and older
Women who have uterine fibroids
Women who have endometriosis
Women who have amenorrhea (irregular menstrual cycles or no cycle at all)
Women who have had more than one miscarriage
Women who have had a stillbirth
Women or men who have certain genetic conditions

Women in every state can get help to pay for medical care during their pregnancies. This prenatal care can help you have a healthy baby. Every state in the United States has a program to help. Programs give medical care, information, advice, and other services important for a healthy pregnancy.

To find out about the program in your state:

Call 1-800-311-BABY (1-800-311-2229). This toll-free telephone number will connect you to the Health Department in your area code.
For information in Spanish, call: 1-800-504-7081.
Call or contact your local Health Department.