According to Stacy L. Norton, MD, The best time to plan what is commonly referred to as pre-natal care, is before getting pregnant. As families, we plan for many of life s events better than we prepare for having a baby. The decision to have a child certainly has an equal and far-reaching impact on the family as where or when to buy a house, for example, but it often doesn t get the same level of discussion and attention.
Many women don t realize they are pregnant for several weeks or a month after conception.
It is during these early weeks that the fetus is making critical progress in forming its tiny organs. Unfortunately, it is also during this time that damage can occur from smoking, drug or alcohol consumption. Since the 1960 s, medical researchers have been able to link birth weight, birth defects and the overall health of newborns to how well the mother was cared for and her activities during her pregnancy. There is a direct relationship between cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption and premature births, low birth weight and miscarriage, and most people are aware that these behaviors are not acceptable for expectant mothers. During the past decade, we have also gained additional information about the impact of sexually transmitted diseases, yet far too many mothers pass along these highly contagious diseases to their newborn infants, and some cause serious birth defects, as well.