Pregnancy Strategies Updated: 11/30/2007 2:05:19 PM Print Article Email Article           (HealthNewsDigest.com) - A healthy pregnancy, ideally, begins a few months before conception. Establishing healthy habits in both parents, testing for medical conditions, and beginning pregnancy-oriented nutrition all add up to the best possible conditions for a baby, says Dr. Lisa Halvorson, an obstetrician-gynecologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center. "By following a few simple steps, a couple may avoid potential complications for both mother and baby," Dr. Halvorson says. Among the strategies she recommends for the prospective mother are: ·Review all medications to assess their potential danger to the fetus. · If not already immune, get a vaccination for rubella (German measles). · Get tested for diabetes, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, high blood pressure, thyroid disorders, and other conditions. · Undergo a general physical examination including Pap smear. · Begin folic acid supplementation, at least 400 micrograms a day, to prevent certain birth defects. · Get counseling to establish a healthful diet and exercise program. · Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. · Avoid dangerous chemicals at work, and rodent or feline feces at home. There are also strategies a prospective father can do, Dr. Halvorson says. Among those tips are: · Stop smoking to avoid second-hand smoke around the mother. · Stop or minimize alcohol consumption, which - along with cigarettes - can reduce male fertility. · If working around dangerous chemicals, such as agricultural pesticides or fertilizers, change clothes immediately upon coming home, and wash those clothes separately. Visit www.utsouthwestern.org/patientcare/medicalservices/obgyn.html to learn more about UT Southwestern's clinical services in gynecology and obstetrics. www.HealthNewsDigest.com Read Original Article © 2007 HealthnewsDigest.com Enter your ZIP code to compare the savings offered by the discount dental plans in your area. Take the first step toward a healthier smile and start saving today! > Find my dentist > Find a ZIP code             Additional Articles Make it a Berry Month! Florida Historical/Education Tours for t... Send Your Kids to Top Ranked Colleges fo... Try Out a Course on Gaming in Libraries ... Keeping Young Minds Sharp During School ... If Restaurants Post Calories - Will Cust... Tips For Treating Stretch Marks Know Your Knees' Needs Sunscreen Smokescreen Pesticides, Fertilizers, Herbicides and ... The Stimulus Package and Green Jobs Stanford Bioethicist and Colleagues Call... Stanford Discovery Pinpoints New Connect... New Insights About Bipolar Disorder Fast Break To Reading Gets In The Game Americans Need A Family Stimulus Plan Know the Warning Signs for Type 1 Diabet... Sleep Better, Stress Less Ladies: 10 Tips for a Better Sex Life For Older Americans, Healthful Eating Ca...

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