Ready to get pregnant?

Pre-conception counseling can help you prepare for a healthy pregnancy.

‍What is pre-conception counseling?

The goal of pre-conception counseling, or pre-pregnancy care, is to plan for the best pregnancy outcome for mothers and babies. Pre-conception counseling can help identify issues that may affect your chances of conceiving or having a healthy pregnancy.

Depending on your needs, your provider will discuss:

Health & Family History

Your provider will work with you to understand your overall health, family history, your partner’s family history, past pregnancies, and living environment - and assess what impact these factors can have on a pregnancy.

Prenatal Vitamins

The 3 phases of treatment (acute, continuation, maintenance) are structured to minimize and prevent the return of symptoms, and prevent lifetime return of new episodes.

Medications

Your provider may recommend changes to medications that you take which may interact with pregnancy or be harmful. Changes may include the type of medication, dosage, or to stop taking the medication(s) entirely.

Vaccinations

Your provider will confirm which immunizations need to be completed prior to conceiving which may include vaccinations for influenza, tetanus, diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, and Tdap.

Testing

Your provider may recommend STI testing and genetic testing as part of your preconception screening. Sexually transmitted infections can interfere with your ability to conceive, and can pose risks to the mother and baby during pregnancy.

Lifestyle Support

Your provider will suggest tips on how to modify your diet for weight loss or gain. Being overweight or underweight can cause pregnancy and childbirth complications. Additionally, you may be recommended to self-monitor your ovulation cycle and modify any harmful behaviors (i.e. quitting substance use).

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How to Prepare for Pregnancy

Follow tips from our Hello Alpha Providers to prepare for a healthy pregnancy.

Prepare Your Body For Pregnancy

Eat a healthy diet and take prenatal vitamins
Get regular exercise
Reach and maintain a healthy weight
Stop unhealthy substances (tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, and prescription drugs taken for a nonmedical reason)
Keep your environment safe

Dietary Do’s & Don'ts

Do limit your caffeine intake to 2 cups per day
Do avoid tilefish and swordfish (the mercury that you consume from these types of fish gets concentrated in the developing fetus and can adversely affect the nervous system)
Do not eat raw meats and seafood
Do not eat unpasteurized cheeses due to a risk of listeria, a bacteria that can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn
Do not drink alcohol during pregnancy

Environmental Exposures

Prenatal exposures to certain environmental chemicals are known to cause adverse effects. It’s important to assess your home and work environment to identify any potential risks. If you live with a spouse or partner, it’s important to understand any potential hazards in their workplace. A few chemicals are known to have harmful effects on a fetus, including: