What is Preconception Health?

Preconception health refers to the health of women throughout their reproductive years, which are the years when a woman can become pregnant. Preconception health is also an important part of ensuring the health of women throughout their lives. All over the world, the health of communities is directly related to the health of the women who live in those communities. Making sure that women of reproductive age are healthy is the best way to ensure the success and well-being of future generations.  

All women can benefit from getting and staying healthy. Being in good health can help you feel better and prevent conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. In addition, a baby’s health is strongly linked to the mother’s health before pregnancy. Staying healthy now can help prevent birth defects and lifelong health problems in any children you may have in the future. If you have already had a child, your health today can affect any future pregnancies. Taking care of your health now helps to ensure a better quality of life for yourself and your family.  

In the United States, 85% of all women will have a baby at some point in their lives. Although you may not be thinking about having a baby now, you may become pregnant in the future. You may already know that making healthy choices is important for your health, but you may not know that there are specific steps you can take today to improve the health of future pregnancies. For example, certain severe birth defects can be prevented by getting enough folic acid every day. Achieving a healthy weight before pregnancy can help prevent lifelong health problems and birth defects in the baby. Avoiding smoking, alcohol and drugs before pregnancy greatly decreases the risk of having a miscarriage or stillbirth. Learn more about the steps you can take to achieve a Healthy Body, a Healthy Mind, and a Healthy Environment below. You can also get started by making a Reproductive Life Plan.  

Healthy Body:

Here are a few tips to keep your body strong and healthy. Following this advice will help you to look and feel your best and if you do get pregnant, you'll be more likely to have a healthy pregnancy:

• Get at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day from a multivitamin or fortified cereal. This will help prevent birth defects if you become pregnant.
• Achieve a healthy weight by eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains and by exercising for at least 30 minutes every day. 
• Visit your doctor once a year for health screenings and to treat medical conditions. Also learn about medications, sexually transmitted diseases, and vaccines that can affect your health
• Take care of your oral health and visit your dentist at least once a year.

Healthy Mind:

Your emotional and mental health have a big impact on your physical health. Here are few ways to reduce your stress, stay balanced and improve your overall health:

• Avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs for your own health and to prevent serious risks if you do get pregnant.  
• Develop healthy relationships with your partner, family, and friends.  
• Allow yourself to de-stress and get help for feelings of sadness or depression to achieve mental wellness.  

 Healthy Environment:

Your health is also affected by the environment in which you live. Follow these guidelines to avoid exposure to toxins, hazards and conditions that could affect your health:    

• Avoid hazardous materials at home and at work. 
• Handle foods safely. Cook all meat thoroughly and avoid raw, unpasteurized milk and cheeses to prevent infections with Listeria. Also limit intake of certain fish to prevent mercury exposure.
• Learn how to manage your money to have financial stability.
• Collaborate with others to promote a healthy community that is free of violence and supports your needs. 
• If you could become pregnant, use gloves when handling cat litter and while gardening to prevent the infection Toxoplasmosis.