Planning and preparation before the final reality of having a baby is one of the most exciting time in any couple's life. But before planning a pregnancy, the best thing one can do is to prepare your body. After all your body is going to be the baby's home for its first 9 months. So making that home as healthy as possible should be first on your agenda.
 

Go For A Preconception Visit

Which is why most doctors recommend a preconception checkup. This visit enables your doctor to uncover any potential health problems before you get pregnant. The problems can then be prevented or treated and of course this will also give your doctor a head start to manage your pregnancy appropriately. It will also give you time to change your lifestyle, maximize your health, improve your chances of conceiving and remove chances of any potential dangers to the baby. A preconception checkup is quite similar to the normal first prenatal visit.
 

Discuss the following with your doctor -

• Family history of genetic diseases and multiple births. 
• The pattern of your menstrual periods. This will be helpful in determining any abnormalities that should be treated before you become pregnant. 
• Any exposure to x-rays or poisons like lead etc., either at work or home. 
• General health - any serious or chronic diseases that you may have had - diabetes, low or high blood pressure, heart disease, epilepsy. There might be need to change some medications before conceiving. 
• Any history of sexually transmitted diseases as this makes conception difficult, might harm a developing baby or cause some other complications during pregnancy. 
• Medications - Even some over the counter drugs can affect the developing baby, so telling your doctor about every medicine that you are taking is essential. The doctor might want to change some medications and stop some before trying to conceive. 
• Vitamin and mineral supplements - high doses of these can also harm the fetus. So let your doctor determine the correct dosage of these for you. 
• Birth control measures - An IUD makes chances of conception difficult and also increases the risk of miscarriages. If you have been using birth control pills, it will take few weeks to 3 months for your body to return to its normal hormonal cycles so that you can become pregnant. 
• Prior pregnancies - Any problems with previous pregnancies can affect future pregnancies. Tell your doctor about any complications that were experienced like miscarriages, induced abortion or premature or multiple births. 
• Vaccinations- Complete and accurate information about your vaccinations to date should be supplied to the doctor. 

Tests To Do 

• A pelvic exam and a pap smear will help identify any problems with the pelvic region or the birth canal. Further tests if your doctor recommends. 
• Check your weight. 
• Blood and urine tests - Blood tests for anaemia and determining the Rh factor. Urine would be analyzed for signs of kidney diseases or diabetes. Tests for hepatitis B, syphilis and gonorrhea because these diseases can cause serious harm to the developing baby. Gonorrhea and syphilis can be cured prior to pregnancy. If you have hepatitis B the doctor will be prepared to give the baby hepatitis B immune globulin and the hepatitis B vaccine. Because the virus that causes AIDS can be passed to the baby, if you are at risk for AIDS, an HIV test will also be done at this visit.