Planning

Congratulations! You’re planning a family. There are several things that you can do to help ensure that you have the healthiest pregnancy possible.

• Develop good diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits.
• Visit your doctor for a general physical exam.
• Begin taking a daily prenatal vitamin (containing at least 400mcg of folic acid) to help prevent some birth defects.
• Limit or eliminate alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs, which increase the chance for an unhealthy pregnancy. Let your doctor know if you need help to stop these activities.
• Discuss with your doctor if you have a chronic condition that requires you take medication. Certain medicines may not be safe in pregnancy. Also see our Genetic Counseling page.
• Consider screening for genetic diseases which may be more common in your ethnic background. For some of the most common genetic diseases, a simple blood test is available to determine if you are at risk to have children with a disease. Also see our page on Ethnicity Based Carrier Screening.
• Gather medical information from you and your partner’s immediate family members. Individuals with a family history of certain diseases or birth defects may be at increased risk of having children with similar symptoms. A complete assessment of your family history can help you understand the specific risks for you or your children. In some cases, detailed testing is available to predict who is at risk. Also see our page on Family History Assessment.

Genetic Counseling, Family History Assessments, and detailed genetic testing can be helpful for women and families with known risk factors. However, most women are able to have normal pregnancies and give birth to healthy babies. There is no test that can predict a couple’s ‘compatibility’ to have children or guarantee a perfect child. If you are unsure whether genetic information may be helpful in your family planning, discuss your concerns with your physician or OB/GYN.