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| Pregnancy & Childbirth: Are there ways to reduce the risk of birth defects? |
There are some basic things that all women can do to improve their chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby:
Plan for pregnancy by seeing a health care provider before you conceive.
Consume a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before you become pregnant and through the first month of pregnancy to help prevent neural tube defects.
Get early and regular prenatal care.
Eat a variety of nutritious foods, including foods containing folic acid, like orange juice, beans, lentils, peanuts, fortified breakfast cereals and leafy green vegetables.
Begin pregnancy at a healthy weight (not too heavy or too thin) before conception.
Don’t smoke during pregnancy; avoid secondhand smoke.
Don’t drink alcohol during pregnancy.
Don’t use any drug, even over-the-counter medications or herbal preparations, unless recommended by a health care provider who knows you are pregnant.
The March of Dimes recommends that all women be tested for immunity to rubella (German measles) and chickenpox before becoming pregnant and consider being vaccinated if they are not immune. The vaccines are not recommended during pregnancy, however.
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