PRECONCEPTION HEALTH
Preconception is the time before a woman becomes pregnant - the best time for a woman to prepare her body for a baby. This is a time when a woman can address any possible risk factors that may affect the baby’s health and development throughout the pregnancy. There are many controllable risk factors in the preconception period that can be addressed to ensure the mother and baby are as healthy as possible. Optimizing health before becoming pregnant can help to create an ideal environment for the developing baby, especially in the first few critical weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know that they are pregnant.
The timing of pregnancy has a significant impact on preconception health. Although it is ideal to make health changes prior to conception, many times a pregnancy is not planned. It is therefore important for all women of childbearing age to know how to reduce the risks of potential health problems should they become pregnant.
For more specific information, please refer to these categories: Pre-existing Conditions and Pregnancy; Folic Acid; and A Healthy Lifestyle.