Consult your doctor or health care professional about a complete health assessment. He or she can make recommendations to prepare you for pregnancy. Your doctor or health care professional also can detect health problems or conditions that could affect the development of your unborn baby. Men also need to be aware of their own health status and its effect on their future child. Studies show that poor eating habits and excessive alcohol consumption may lower the quality and quantity of sperm, making conception more difficult.
Any woman can benefit from prepregnancy planning.
Lifestyle changes The lifestyle choices you and your partner make today can significantly affect the health of your future baby. Having low birth-weight babies is more common among women who smoke during their pregnancies than among nonsmokers. Research shows that men who smoke may produce fewer sperm. Don't drink . Drinking during pregnancy can be hazardous to an unborn baby's health and may result in birth defects.