Pre-pregnancy planning
Keeping you and your future baby healthy
If you’re planning to become pregnant, now is the time to focus on your health. Your preconception health contributes to a healthier pregnancy and baby. At Penn Medicine, you have access to highly trained experts across all specialties who provide complete care for your physical and mental well-being.
Preconception planning may look different for each person. We’ll help you create a customized pre-pregnancy care plan that addresses all your needs.
How to plan for a healthy pregnancy
Whether you’re planning your first pregnancy or you’re between pregnancies, you can get your body ready to carry and deliver a baby by taking these important steps:
- Focus on healthy habits: A nutritious and balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep set a solid foundation for preconception health. Aim to reach or maintain a healthy weight and work to reduce or manage stress.
- Schedule a pre-pregnancy planning consultation: Talk with your health-care provider about your plan to become pregnant. Discuss all your medical conditions and any family history of genetic or chromosomal disorders. Bring a list of all medications you’re taking, as some may cause pregnancy complications.
- Stop drinking alcohol, smoking, and drug use: Alcohol, smoking, and certain drugs can lead to pregnancy complications, premature birth, and congenital disorders. It’s important to stop using these substances before you become pregnant.
- Take a daily prenatal vitamin: Prenatal vitamins support your body with folic acid, iron, and other vitamins and minerals you and your future baby need. They can help reduce the risk of some congenital anomalies. Some pregnant people experience less nausea and vomiting from morning sickness when they take prenatal vitamins. Start taking them at least one month before you plan to become pregnant.
- Watch for environmental toxins: Many household products and cleaners contain toxic chemicals that can harm reproductive health. Avoid them or switch to products with natural ingredients.
Specialized preconception care, counseling, and guidance
Our specialists support your goal of a healthy pregnancy with compassionate, comprehensive care. We take a multidisciplinary approach to your care that addresses every aspect of your health. Pre-pregnancy care at Penn Medicine includes:
Obstetric care starts before you conceive. Our highly trained OB/GYN providers offer a preconception health checkup. During this appointment, your provider will identify any health factors that might affect your future pregnancy. They will also discuss vaccinations you might need and how to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
We offer contraceptive care and family planning services to help you plan for a future pregnancy. We will guide you to safe and effective birth control options to prevent pregnancy now, so you can become a parent when the time is right. Our pregnancy care also includes medical and emotional support for pregnancy complications, miscarriage, and pregnancy termination.
Infertility can affect anyone, whether you’re planning your first pregnancy or have already delivered a child. Fertility care at Penn Medicine offers support from reproductive endocrinology experts who address both male and female infertility issues. Our caring team provides accurate diagnosis and treatment for infertility. You may also choose fertility preservation services to protect your future fertility. We recommend fertility preservation for people who plan to undergo medical treatments or hormone therapies that might interfere with fertility.
If you or your partner have a known genetic condition in your family history, our expert geneticists can assess the risk to your future baby. Prenatal genetic screening tests can detect if you carry a gene abnormality that your baby might inherit. If you are a carrier, we offer genetic counseling and guidance to help you plan your next steps.
Some medical conditions increase your risk for complications during pregnancy and delivery. At Penn Medicine, you have access to maternal-fetal medicine specialists. These experts in high-risk pregnancies support and protect your health to minimize risks to you and your baby. If you have diabetes or a known heart condition, you’ll receive specialized care from our diabetes or cardiology providers.
People with mood disorders and mental health conditions may experience increased symptoms during pregnancy. Our Women’s Health specialty offers behavioral wellness services with compassionate, caring providers who specialize in prenatal and postpartum mental health. They’ll create a care plan that addresses your needs with therapies and medications that are safe during pregnancy (if appropriate).