o... you're thinking of having a baby. Sure, many women who were surprised to find out they were already eight weeks pregnant have delivered perfectly healthy babies. But if you have the chance to plan a bit beforehand, why not take advantage of this opportunity?
Print this checklist to mark your completed items.
An interactive checklist is coming soon!
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Health & Medical |
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If you don’t already have an obstetrician or other practitioner (midwife, etc.), you’ll want to select one.
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Look into your family’s medical history. (Don’t forget your partner’s family!) Your practitioner may want to review this at your preconception visit.
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Consider genetic testing in order to rule out (or be aware of) potential issues that can be passed on to your baby.
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Talk to your practitioner about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you’re currently taking.
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See your dentist; periodontal disease can have adverse affects on a growing baby.
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Quit any smoking (even socially), and be careful of second-hand smoke.
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Assess and try to eliminate environmental toxins that you are exposed to in your home or workplace (radiation, certain cleaning solvents, pesticides, etc.)
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If you are overweight or underweight, you might consider reaching a healthy weight for pregnancy.
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Start taking a prenatal vitamin and folic acid. |
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Emotional/Personal |
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Pregnancy can be a time of great emotional upheaval caused by your body’s increase in hormone production. Keep this in mind if you or close family members have suffered from depression. In order to minimize any potential distress during pregnancy, you might want to speak with a therapist before trying to conceive.
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Do something fun and exciting that you might not be able to do for the next nine (plus) months. (Some ideas: a skydiving excursion with friends or a wine-tasting weekend with your partner.)
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Financial |
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It’s not too early to review your finances and the expenses of a growing family.
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Look into what your health insurance covers for pregnancy and delivery.
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If you are employed, find out what kind of maternity leave programs your company offers.
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Conception |
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If you’re using contraception other than a diaphragm or condoms, discontinue use carefully and gradually. The sudden stopping of some hormone-based birth control can cause irregular bleeding and/or other problems.
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Start charting your menstrual cycle so you know when you will be ovulating.
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Stock up on pregnancy tests. Once you stop using contraception, you’ll want to take a test every week. (Although who can wait that long? Accept that you just might waste a whole bunch of tests!)
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Start tracking your basal body temperature. |
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Move on to First Trimester: Checklist
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