Pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant? Regular health check-ups are important throughout life but even more critical if you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant. Taking certain actions are key for a healthy pregnancy and baby, and to prevent birth defects.
Planning for pregnancy
Your health before pregnancy can affect the health of your future baby.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about your health history, medications, vaccinations, lifestyle, and behavior.
- Start getting at least 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day now, to help prevent major birth defects. See Planning to Get Pregnant Soon? English | Did You Know? Spanish, or below for more information.
- Reach and maintain a healthy weight to reduce the risk of serious health problems.
- Avoid toxic substances and contaminants that can affect your reproductive system.
- Learn your family history to identify factors that might affect your baby or your ability to get pregnant.
- Get mentally healthy and seek help if being worried, anxious, sad, or stressed interfere with your daily life. See Every Parent OC: Thinking About Getting Pregnant – Healthy Mind & Healthy Relationships
- Start working on the action steps below now before you are pregnant!
See Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): About Planning for Pregnancy English for more information.
Take Action Now for a Healthy Baby!
Here are some ways you can help to protect your health and your baby’s:
Start Prenatal Care Early and Continue Regularly
- It is important to start prenatal care early as soon as you know you are pregnant! Babies of moms who don’t get prenatal care are more likely to have low birth weight or health issues compared to babies of moms who do get prenatal care. Prenatal care includes regular check-ups, screenings, and tests while you are pregnant to make sure that you and your baby are healthy.
- To learn about prenatal checkups: March of Dimes: Prenatal Care Checkups English | Spanish
Take Folic Acid
- Taking folic acid, a B vitamin, is one of the easiest ways to lower the chance of birth defects. Folic acid is important for normal growth and development of your baby. You can protect your baby from developing brain and spine defects by making healthy food choices and taking folic acid supplements (usually in prenatal vitamins) of at least 400 micrograms (mcg) every day before and during pregnancy.
- Foods you can eat that are high in folic acid are:
- Eggs
- Fortified bread, rice, pasta, or corn masa flour foods
- Beans, peas, and lentils
- Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and arugula
- Fruits including oranges, lemons, bananas, melons, and strawberries
- For more information on folic acid, visit:
- Every Parent OC: Why You Should Take Folic Acid
- March of Dimes: Folic Acid Health Action Sheet (English/Spanish)
- CDC: Shopping for Folic Acid Reel English | Spanish
- NOURISH by WebMD: What is Folate? Folic Acid Benefits, Risks, Uses and Dosage
Avoid Drugs, including Tobacco, Marijuana, and Alcohol
- Smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs can increase the chance of birth defects, developmental problems, premature birth, and death. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor. There are supports and resources you can be connected to.
- You are not alone! For information about substance use and pregnancy and how to get support, see:
- Every Parent OC: Substance Use (During Pregnancy)
- Orange County Family Support Task Force: Substance Use and Pregnancy English | Spanish | Vietnamese
- Peer Support Specialist Warmline: call or text 714-726-5920
- Treatment or detox services (for pregnant/post-partum persons): 714-480-6660. After hours and on weekends, call OC Links 855-625-4657
- In-person support (public health nurses/social workers): 714-834-7747
Get Vaccinated
- Certain infections during pregnancy can cause birth defects and other serious health problems. Getting vaccinated helps you and your baby get the protection you need. When moms are vaccinated, their babies are born with antibodies that help give them extra protection from diseases during the first months after birth.
- Talk to your doctor about getting:
- Flu vaccine – as soon as it is available if you are pregnant or will be pregnant during flu season (generally fall and winter)
- Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis [whooping cough]) vaccine – between 27 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, even if you got it earlier.
- COVID-19 vaccine – if you have not received the updated COVID-19 vaccine this year
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine – if you are 32 through 36 weeks pregnant during September to January
- To learn more about vaccine recommendations before, during, and after pregnancy see:
Get Tested for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- All pregnant people should make STI testing part of their prenatal care. Most STIs have no signs and symptoms. Getting STI testing is the only way to know your status and protect you and your baby from any illness or serious health complications.
- For more information on STIs and Pregnancy see:
Manage Your Preexisting Health Conditions
- If you have any chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, it is important to manage these before and during pregnancy to lower the chance of health complications and birth defects.
- Talk to your doctor about:
- Safe medications
- Blood sugar control
- Diet and exercise
- Monitoring symptoms
Get Support
- A healthy mind and healthy relationships are important parts of a healthy life. For some pregnant people, pregnancy may bring unexpected mental and emotional challenges. It’s important to understand how pregnancy can affect your mental health and what you can do to get support or treatment.
- You are not alone! For resources or support:
- Every Parent OC: Pregnant – Healthy Mind & Relationships
- OC Links English | Spanish | Vietnamese
