Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

Before pregnancy: Giving baby the best
When it comes to pregnancy, thinking ahead can give you and your baby the best possible beginning. Whatever point you're at in planning a family, the decisions you make today can make a difference in your baby's health as well as your own.

If you're thinking about having a baby, you might want to ask yourself some key questions, such as:

* Why do I want to have a baby?
* Does my partner feel the same way I do about having a child?
* How will having a baby affect my current and future lifestyles? Am I ready and willing to make those changes?
* Do I have the emotional and financial support I need to raise a child?
* Will I be able to provide my baby with proper child care?
At the same time, think about your physical health. Indeed, the better your health before you conceive, the better your chances of avoiding problems that can affect you and your baby.

If you haven't thought about any of these issues so far, it doesn't mean you'll have an unhealthy pregnancy. But the sooner you set the stage for a successful outcome, the better your odds. That's true whether you are still in the planning stages, are trying to conceive or already have a baby on the way.

The following sections offer more information on how to do the best for you and your baby before, during and, in some cases, after your pregnancy.

Nutrition: Make every bite count
Good nutrition isn't only important during pregnancy. Even if you're just planning to become pregnant, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your future child.

Once you're pregnant, you'll be eating for two, but if you think this means eating twice as much, you may be disappointed. Eating for two (you and your baby) means that you need to focus on eating twice as well as in the past.

If you already follow good eating habits, you have a head start in providing your baby with the nutrition he or she will need. Over the course of your pregnancy, you'll want to increase your intake of iron, calcium, folic acid and other essential vitamins and nutrients, since these nutrients are important to your baby's development. You'll also need to avoid certain foods that pose a safety risk so that neither you nor your baby gets sick. Yet, for the most part, you simply may have to do more of what you're already doing.

If your nutrition is poor or you often diet, skip meals or eat a limited variety of foods, start making changes now. In fact, it's critical to make good eating habits a part of your pregnancy planning from the start. The reason: Most of your baby's major organs form during the first few weeks of pregnancy before you may even know you're pregnant. With too few calories or nutrients, cell development can be less than ideal and your baby may be underweight at birth, which may increase his or her risk of short- and long-term health problems.

PRECONCEPTION VISIT: WHAT TO SHARE

It's a good idea to make a preconception appointment with your doctor, nurse-midwife or other medical health care provider. Be ready to talk about the following subjects.