If you're planning to become pregnant, prepare for a healthy pregnancy by taking care of medical and dental concerns beforehand. If you've been using the Pill for birth control (oral contraception), try to wait till you've had one regular menstrual period before conceiving. Fertility after stopping birth control can sometimes be delayed but isn't permanently affected.²

Now more than ever, it's smart to get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet, and drink plenty of water, as well as to reduce or stop drinking caffeine. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. Also, avoid using medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or aspirin.

If you haven't yet chosen a health professional for pregnancy, childbirth, and after-birth (postpartum) care, give some thought to your many options. For more information, see choosing your health professional for pregnancy care.

Review your immunization history with your health professional. To prevent birth defects, miscarriage, or stillbirth that can be caused by such infections as rubella or measles, get any necessary immunizations and wait the recommended period of time before trying to get pregnant.

Talk to your health professional about whether to have cystic fibrosis carrier screening (a blood test) before pregnancy. This screening is especially important if you or your partner have a family history of cystic fibrosis or if you and your partner have a Caucasian, European, or Ashkenazi Jewish background.³ If you have the cystic fibrosis gene, your partner will also be tested. If he also has the gene, see a genetic counselor to learn more about your risks of having a child with cystic fibrosis.