The choices you make before you become pregnant can affect the health of your future baby. For that reason, it is important to make healthy changes now. Living a healthy lifestyle can help to improve your chances of having a healthy baby.
What is Preconception Health?
Preconception Health refers to the health of a woman before she get pregnant. It focuses on the conditions and risk factors that could affect a woman if she becomes pregnant. Preconception health applies to women who have never been pregnant, and also to women who would like to get pregnant again. Preconception health looks at factors that can affect both mom and baby. These include factors such as nutrition, taking prescription drugs or drinking alcohol. The key to preconception health is to get good medical care, practice healthy behaviors, ask for support from family and friends, and make your environment safe at home and at work.
Make a Reproductive Life Plan
A reproductive life plan is a set of personal goals about having (or not having) children. Your plan should also include how to achieve those goals. Everyone should make a reproductive plan based on personal values and resources. It is important to think about when and under what conditions you want to become pregnant. Then make sure your actions support your goals. Health care providers and counselors can help guide you with your plan.
What Should You Consider Before Becoming Pregnant?
Here are a few steps you can take to improve your health before you get pregnant:
- Quit smoking and stop drinking alcohol
- Eat healthy, exercise and maintain a healthy weight
- See a dentist for dental check-ups
- Manage stress and mental wellness
- Make decisions about pregnancy with your partner
- Avoid contact with toxic substances
- Think about your financial stability
- Seek out healthy relationships
- Think about the environment in which you live
- Schedule a health check-up with your doctor and ask about:
- taking folic acid
- vaccines you may need
- sexually transmitted diseases
- medicines and supplements that you take
- health screenings that you may need
- managing a chronic illness before pregnancy
- resources for mental health concerns
Does Your Child Need Health Insurance?
Sacramento Covered
Sacramento Covered is committed to serving families in the Sacramento region, gradually reducing the number of uninsured children. Sacramento Covered program staff are focused on reaching families throughout Sacramento County who are eligible for subsidized healthcare programs. They can assist you throughout the application process. Citizenship is not required for some programs. If you think your family is eligible, call toll-free at 1-866-850-4321 to make an appointment.
Sacramento County Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) Program
The CHDP program is a free health services program providing complete health exams for Medi-Cal eligible (ages 0 to 21) and moderate income (ages 0 to 19) children. The CHDP program connects children and young adults to preventive care services such as general health exams, immunizations, physicals, and school entry exams.
Call (916) 875-7151 to see if you are eligible!
More Preconception Health Resources
Need Pregnancy Resources?
Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP)
CPSP is a voluntary program that seeks to improve the health of low-income pregnant women and give their babies a healthy start in life. CPSP certified obstetrical providers who implement CPSP protocols in their practice are given enhanced Medi-Cal reimbursement. The goals of CPSP are to encourage early and continuous prenatal care; to decrease incidence of low birth weight infants; to improve outcomes of every pregnancy; and to lower health care costs by preventing catastrophic and chronic illness in infants and children.
For a listing of CPSP presumptive eligibility providers and a pregnancy resource guide, click on the CPSP link above.
