Some Basic Advice

Start taking a folic acid supplement at least one month before pregnancy. Because half of all pregnancies are unplanned, a daily folic acid supplement of at least 400 mcg (micrograms) is advisable for all women of child-bearing age, especially for women who are trying to conceive.. If you are planning to start a family, get early prenatal care, even before you are pregnant.

• Consult your doctor, health-care provider, or midwife immediately if you think you may be pregnant or if your home pregnancy test result is positive.

• Quit smoking, stop drinking alcohol and caffeinated beverages (including coffee, tea, and soft drinks), and inform your doctor of any prescription, over-the-counter, and/or illicit drugs you are taking.

• Reevaluate your eating habits. Do you skip breakfast, eat fast food for lunch, and graze on junk food for dinner? Follow a well-balanced diet designed for pregnant women. Learn what foods are good for you and try to incorporate them into your diet.

• Get moving. A little exercise will help reduce stress, gas, heartburn, and constipation.

• Eliminate as much stress as possible from your work and home environment. This will help you cope with the intense fatigue of pregnancy and will help keep you emotionally stable when your hormones play tricks on you. Try to let go and relax.

• Get plenty of rest. Your body needs the extra sleep for a reason–so don't fight it. Try to get eight hours of sleep at night, and take short naps with your legs elevated during the day.

• Avoid X rays, hot tubs, and saunas.

• Avoid all rare and undercooked meat, poultry, and seafood.

• Pregnant women should be aware of certain dangerous food-borne illnesses and take precautions to avoid them. These include listeriosis, toxoplasmosis, E. coli, salmonellosis, and Eggs and Salmonella Enteritidis.

• Pregnant women should limit their consumption of certain large fish that contain high levels of methylmercury, such as swordfish and shark.

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