easy healthy habits to start at 4 weeks pregnant

Treat fevers higher than 101 oF with Tylenol® (or store brand acetaminophen), and avoid hot tubs, saunas, or other environments that might cause overheating. Be proactive in identifying and treating fever when ill or after getting a vaccine.Know how to prevent infections during pregnancy.Don’t stop or start taking any type of medication without first talking with a doctor. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary or herbal supplements. Talk to a healthcare provider about any medications you are taking or thinking about taking.Get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day, starting at least one month before getting pregnant.Be sure to see your healthcare provider regularly and start prenatal care as soon as you think you might be pregnant.But, there are things that a woman can do before and during pregnancy to increase her chance of having a healthy baby:

Learn about CDC’s research on causes and risk factors » It is important to talk to your doctor about what you can do to lower your risk. Also, women can have a baby born with a birth defect even when they don’t have any of these risks. Having one or more of these risks doesn’t mean you’ll have a pregnancy affected by a birth defect.

Being an older mother, as the risk of chromosomal abnormalities increases with age.

Experiencing fever greater than 101 oF or having an elevated body temperature due to heat exposure.

Having certain infections during pregnancy such as Zika virus and cytomegalovirus.

To learn more about your risk of having a baby with a birth defect, you can talk with a clinical geneticist or a genetic counselor.

Having someone in your family with a birth defect.

Taking certain medications, such as isotretinoin (a drug used to treat severe acne).

Having certain medical conditions, such as being obese or having uncontrolled diabetes before and during pregnancy.

Smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking certain drugs during pregnancy.

For example, some things might increase the chances of having a baby with a birth defect, such as: While we still have more work to do, we have learned a lot about birth defects through past research. But, we don’t fully understand how these factors might work together to cause birth defects. These factors include our genes (information inherited from our parents), our behaviors, and things in the environment. For most birth defects, we think they are caused by a complex mix of factors. But for most birth defects, we don’t know what causes them.

During the last six months of pregnancy, the tissues and organs continue to grow and develop.įor some birth defects, like fetal alcohol syndrome, we know the cause. However, some birth defects occur later in pregnancy. This is a very important stage of development. Most birth defects occur in the first 3 months of pregnancy, when the organs of the baby are forming. Learn more about diagnosing birth defects » Causesīirth defects can occur during any stage of pregnancy. Some birth defects (such as cleft lip) are easy to see, but others (such as heart defects or hearing loss) are found using special tests, such as echocardiograms (an ultrasound picture of the heart), x-rays or hearing tests. Most birth defects are found within the first year of life. Identifying Birth DefectsĪ birth defect can be found before birth, at birth, or any time after birth. Depending on the severity of the defect and what body part is affected, the expected lifespan of a person with a birth defect may or may not be affected. The well-being of each child affected with a birth defect depends mostly on which organ or body part is involved and how much it is affected. Birth defects can vary from mild to severe. They may affect how the body looks, works, or both.

1īirth defects are structural changes present at birth that can affect almost any part or parts of the body (e.g., heart, brain, foot). That means nearly 120,000 babies are affected by birth defects each year. Every 4 ½ minutes, a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States.

Easy healthy habits to start at 4 weeks pregnant