quick clicks

preconception articles

preconception q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Ready, Set, Conceive!

Preconception Planning for a Healthy Pregnancy

By Lisa Hurt Kozarovich

Acting on It

One common misconception women have regarding their preconception and pregnancy is that they should take it easy and not really exercise, Dr. Powell says. Actually, the opposite is true. "It helps relieve the stress for women who are trying to get pregnant, it helps prevent gestational diabetes in women once they become pregnant and it helps build their stamina for labor and delivery," she says.

A relatively new recommendation, from the American Academy of Periodontology, is that women visit their dentist to have a periodontal evaluation during their preconception planning. "Evidence is mounting suggesting that having periodontal disease may make women seven times more likely to deliver a pre-term or low birth weight baby. The likely culprit is a labor-inducing chemical found in dental plaque called prostaglandin," according to a press release issued by the academy.

In the meantime, do what you can to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby, Dr. Petrikovsky says, and then remember: "About 97 percent of all babies are healthy, so that's a good reason to relax."

Want to see more?

• Folic Acid: A Vital Part of Preconception
• Preconception Visits: Working With Your Doctor
• Later in Life: Pregnancy at 35 and Older
• Talk about it!