Preconception Care and Prenatal Care

Preconception care is the health care a woman receives before she gets pregnant. Prenatal care is the health care a woman gets during pregnancy. Both can help promote a healthy pregnancy.

Getting chronic health conditions under control and quitting smoking are among the things a woman can do before she gets pregnant to improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy.

Talking to your health care provider about your health history and lifestyle before you get pregnant can help determine what tests or other actions you might need for a healthy pregnancy.

Getting early and regular prenatal care is the best thing you can do to keep yourself and your developing fetus healthy while you are pregnant.

The specific activities for a prenatal visit depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy and your overall health status.

Health care providers run several routine tests during pregnancy. Some women may undergo additional testing because of their age, health, family health history, and ethnicity.

A number of possible problems can occur during pregnancy. Regular prenatal visits can help identify such problems early and allow treatment or management to maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Some women are at increased risk for health problems during pregnancy based on age, existing health conditions, problems they had in previous pregnancies, and other factors.

For many, stress is a part of daily life regardless of pregnancy status. So it is normal to feel some stress during pregnancy. But too much stress can negatively affect your pregnancy.

NICHD research aims to promote healthy pregnancies.

• NICHD Research Goals
• Activities and Advances
• Scientific Articles

NICHD conducts and supports a variety of clinical research projects related to preconception care and prenatal care.

Links to websites of groups that study or provide information about preconception care and prenatal care.