It's important not to be underweight or overweight during pregnancy. Underweight women tend to have smaller babies, who have more problems during labor and after delivery. Overweight women are more likely to develop high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy. Don't diet during pregnancy, however, or while you are trying to become pregnant. Studies have shown that birth defects of the spine and brain, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, can occur if the mother does not get sufficient folic acid during the first few weeks of her pregnancy.
Folic acid is contained in many foods and in multivitamin supplements.
Discuss it with your health care provider. If you have diabetes, make sure it is being treated. Although women with insulin-dependent diabetes have a higher risk of miscarriage and of having a baby with a birth defect, if the blood sugar is controlled before and during pregnancy, chances for delivering a healthy baby are excellent. If you have not had rubella, it may be advisable to be vaccinated prior to becoming pregnant. If you do get vaccinated, you should delay trying to get pregnant for three months.