Information for Women Planning a Pregnancy

Preparing for a healthy baby starts before pregnancy. Managing health conditions and getting into the best health possible before pregnancy helps lower future health risks to a fetus or infant.

What You Should Do Before You Become Pregnant

Some of the best things you can do to prepare for a healthy pregnancy are to:

• Talk with a healthcare provider as early as possible.
• Get healthy and avoid things that could harm you or a baby.
• Develop a reproductive life plan.

Talk with a healthcare provider

Talk with a doctor or other healthcare provider about what you can do to be in the best health before you become pregnant. Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any over-the-counter and prescription medicines you are taking. These include dietary or herbal supplements. Care is best provided in a continuous manner with the same healthcare provider. If you do not have a primary healthcare provider, there are a number of places you can get no or low-cost healthcare services, even if you are uninsured. (more)

Get into the best health possible

• Take a vitamin with 400-800 micrograms of folic acid every day for at least one month before getting pregnant to help prevent birth defects. (more)
• If you have a medical condition like asthma, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, or epilepsy, make sure you are managing it.
• If you have dental or other oral health needs, see an oral healthcare provider to get them taken care of. (more)
• If you have a history of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), or have a new partner, get tested for STIs. (more)
• Make sure your vaccinations are up to date. (more)
• Take care of yourself. Eat smart, move more, get plenty of sleep, and find ways to control stress.

Avoid things that could harm you or a baby

• If you or your partner use tobacco, quit and keep your home smoke-free. Quitting is hard, but not impossible. (more)
• Stop drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs, if you do. Take prescription medicines as directed. Local help is available for drug and alcohol use. (more)
• Avoid contact with chemicals and toxins or materials that could cause infection.
• Stay away from cat and rodent waste. If you own a cat, ask your healthcare provider about toxoplasmosis. You can lower your risk of getting this infection by having a non-pregnant person change the litter box. (more)
• If you think you might be in an abusive relationship, contact the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence or the 24 hour/day Rhode Island Victims of Crime helpline to get help.

Develop a reproductive life plan

A reproductive life plan is a set of personal goals about having (or not having) children and a plan for how to achieve them. Think about when and under what conditions you want to become pregnant. Then make sure your actions support these goals. Your healthcare provider can help you understand the options that are best for you. (more)

What We Do

• Offer free home visits to pregnant women and families with young children. (more)
• Oversee newborn health screening. (more)
• Link families with WIC Program services. (more)
• Collaborate with and support healthcare providers to decrease the rate of premature births and increase the number of planned pregnancies in Rhode Island. (more)
• Collaborate with and support healthcare providers and community groups working to increase breastfeeding rates in Rhode Island. (more)
• Coordinate statewide efforts to reduce lead exposure in children and create safer living environments for all Rhode Islanders. (more)
• Provide services to help smokers quit and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. (more)