Before a woman becomes pregnant, she should have a medical examination to evaluate her medical status and identify any risks to her health or the health of her child. In addition, a doctor may offer guidance as to any prescription medication changes or similar alterations in lifestyle that can help the health of both the mother and her child. That includes, for example, obesity, which can be a big problem for women expecting to conceive and their children. Certain medications may create difficulties before, during or after pregnancy and need to be watched carefully, Marquette said. According to a 1997 March of Dimes survey, only 27 percent of women who have had a pregnancy say they made a visit to the doctor prior to conceiving.
Smoking is an obvious choice for elimination.
So are illegal drugs of any sort. One important thing to remember about pregnancies in general is that 60 percent of them in the United States are unplanned or mistimed, Marquette said. Because of that, it is best to start taking preventative measures early. There is no safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. During the first trimester of pregnancy, alcohol use can damage the fetus' growing bone structure, creating deformities that may include short or crooked fingers or an abnormally small head with a corresponding small brain.