Pregnancy, Lifestyle
Before you start trying: the boring, useful checklist
Not the nursery. The handful of things worth sorting out in the months before you try to conceive — most of which take one appointment.
Reviewed against NHS, 1 min read, published
The useful preparation is unromantic and mostly administrative, which is why it gets skipped in favour of paint charts.
What to sort out first
- Start folic acid before you conceive rather than after.
- Check that your vaccinations are up to date.
- Ask whether any medicine you take regularly needs changing — and never stop one on your own to be safe. Check first.
If you're trying to get pregnant, there are things you can do to help keep you healthy before and during pregnancy, and help protect your baby too.
The familiar advice
It happens to matter here: cut alcohol, stop smoking, and get whatever sleep the rest of your life allows.
Quick summary
- Folic acid: start before you conceive, not after
- Vaccinations: check they are up to date
- Medicines: ask whether any need changing, and never stop one on your own
- Long-term conditions: get them settled beforehand, which can take a few months
- Everyday: cut alcohol, stop smoking, and sleep what you can
