You should ideally discontinue birth control at least one month before pregnancy. If you've been taking the pill, it's a good idea to finish your pill pack rather than stopping in the middle of the month. This will help ensure that you don't miss any pills and therefore won't be producing an ineffective dose of hormones. The most effective method of contraception is abstinence or sexual abstinence combined with a reliable form of birth control. However, for many people this is not an option. If you rely on contraception to prevent pregnancy but still want children someday, then there are several forms of birth control available that can help ensure you don't get pregnant.