Get ready for pregnancy

• Having a healthy baby someday starts well before pregnancy.
• You and your partner should start making healthy choices now.
• Eating right and getting fit are some ways to get healthy.

If you're thinking about getting pregnant soon or sometime in the future, it's important to start making healthy choices now. Having a healthy baby someday begins well before pregnancy. The sooner you start living a healthier lifestyle, the better off you and baby will be!

Make sure you take a multivitamin with folic acid. Try to get to a healthy weight before pregnancy and visit your health care provider for a checkup before pregnancy.

If you're using birth control to manage when and how often to get pregnant, learn more about how these methods work and how to stop using them when you’re ready to have a baby.

Before getting pregnant, think about the emotional and lifestyle issues you'll face as a parent. Talk to your partner about the values you share or concerns you both have about starting a family.

Many new parents are surprised by how expensive a baby can be. But if you talk to your partner and plan ahead, these new costs will be easier to manage.

See also:  Thinking about pregnancy after premature birth