Ideally, a couple considering having a baby must discuss with a doctor or another healthcare professional whether pregnancy is recommended and about pregnancy monitoring. Generally, pregnancy is very safe. Some disorders can be serious during pregnancy monitoring. Also, the risk of having a baby with a genetic disorder increases for some couples.
When a couple considers having a baby, the woman must begin taking a multivitamin containing folate (folic acid) once a day. The minimum amount recommended for women of childbearing age is 400 micrograms. Folate reduces the risk of having a baby with a birth defect (neural tube defect) by affecting the development of the spinal cord. Women with a baby with a neural tube defect must usually begin taking a much larger amount than recommended. Once they begin thinking about having another baby, they can take 1000 micrograms or higher doses.
Women considering pregnancy must begin taking a multivitamin containing folate (which helps prevent certain birth defects) rather than waiting until they become pregnant. If a couple decides to have a baby, they and the doctor discuss ways to make the pregnancy as healthy as possible. The woman must ask the doctor questions about factors that could affect her health or the health of the developing fetus.