Stage 1 of 6 · Before pregnancy

Planning

The months before a pregnancy are a good time to look after your own health. Small steps now — a check-up, folic acid, and a plan for spacing your children — make the months ahead easier for you and your baby.

In this stage

  • Starting folic acid before you conceive
  • A pre-pregnancy check-up and routine tests
  • Managing long-term conditions and medicines
  • Family planning and spacing between pregnancies
  • Eating well and staying active

Read next

Guides for this stage are being written. Join on WhatsApp to hear when they are ready.

Take these to your next visit.

  1. Should I start folic acid now, and how much should I take?
  2. Can we check for anaemia, HIV, syphilis and my blood sugar?
  3. Do any of my regular medicines need to change before I get pregnant?
  4. Are my vaccinations up to date, including tetanus?
  5. How long should we wait after my last baby before trying again?

Screenshot this list, or copy it onto the back of your clinic card. Ask one at a time — you are allowed to.

Find a clinic: Maternity

Opens the clinic list, filtered to places that offer this.