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Get your teeth cleaned regularly to control gum disease. If you need other dental work, Graves advises getting it done before getting pregnant. Your gums are likely to bleed more during pregnancy since your body is generating more blood flow, she says.
Medications
If you're taking a medication for a chronic condition, talk to your doctor. Some medications are considered safe during pregnancy. Others are known to potentially raise the risk of birth defects—like the blood pressure drugs known as ACE inhibitors. With some medications, like those sold over the counter, the effects on an unborn child are often unknown. Your doctor can help you weigh the risks and benefits.
Vaccinations
Your immunizations may need to be updated, so check with your doctor about this. Timing of these shots is critical if you're planning on getting pregnant since some vaccines can be harmful to the baby. With measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and chickenpox vaccines, you must have the shot—and use birth control—for one to three months prior to conception, says Graves. Other vaccines like tetanus or hepatitis B shots can be given during pregnancy. In fact, women who will be in their second or third trimesters during the flu season should get flu shots. Your doctor can help you figure out what vaccines you need and when it's safe to get them.
Stress reduction
It is not fully understood, but the cortisol hormone that the body releases during times of stress seems to make conception more difficult, says Graves. "Stress is difficult to avoid, but exercise, getting plenty of sleep, and developing a good support system can help reduce stress." If you've stayed true to a healthy lifestyle over the years, it can translate into a healthy pregnancy—especially helpful if you're past the "prime" fertility years, says Graves.
SOURCES: Connie Graves, MD, director of maternal-fetal medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenn. Michael Greene, MD, director of obstetrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic: "Your Baby's Growth and Development Months 1 to 9," "Diabetes and Pregnancy," "Prenatal Vitamins," "Considering Pregnancy," "Pregnant with Asthma," "Smoking During Pregnancy," "Depression," "Taking Medicine During Pregnancy," "Preeclampsia and Eclampsia," "Eating Right while Pregnant," "Is it Safe to Get Vaccinations?" CDC Office of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. WebMD Medical Reference: "Preparing for Pregnancy" and "Ready or Not: First Trimester" from "The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby." WebMD Medical News: "ACE Inhibitors May Boost Birth Defects"; "Pregnancy Antidepressants: Baby Risk."
