Planning for pregnancy

Planning for a baby is an exciting time, but it can also bring up worries about money, relationships, or other parts of life. Feeling anxious now and then is completely normal. But if those feelings don’t go away, it’s important to talk to someone. This could be someone you trust such as a friend or family member, a GP, or a practice nurse.

Looking after your wellbeing gives you the best chance of a healthy pregnancy. This includes your mental health, what you eat, how active you are, how you manage stress, money, and your relationships.

Fertility naturally declines with age especially for women over 35, as both the number and quality of eggs reduce. Men’s fertility also decreases with age, though more gradually. If the male partner is over 40, it may take longer to get pregnant, particularly if the woman is also over 40.

More than 8 in 10 couples will get pregnant within a year if a woman is under 40 and they’re having regular sex (every 2 to 3 days) without contraception.

At any age, it is a good idea to be as healthy as possible before you get pregnant.

See your GP if you haven’t become pregnant after a year of trying or within six months if you are over 36.

If you have struggled with your mental health or anxiety in the last five years, or you are worried about your mental health now, it’s a good idea to speak to a healthcare professional before trying for a baby. This helps to make sure you’re in the best possible health for pregnancy.

If you are taking medication for your mental health, it's really important to let your doctor know you’re planning to get pregnant. Do not stop taking your regular medication before speaking to your doctor.

If you or your partner smoke, or live with someone who does, it’s best to try to stop before getting pregnant. Smoking and second hand smoke can make it harder to get pregnant and can affect your baby’s health.

Smoking affects both the egg and sperm quality so the earlier you stop, the better for you and your baby.

Fertility can start to improve quickly after going smokefree.

Visit our page on stopping smoking for a list of support services across West Yorkshire.

Vaping

The impact of vaping on fertility isn’t fully known yet, but research suggests it could harm reproductive health.

• What’s in e-cigarettes? They often contain nicotine, flavourings, and chemicals that can affect your overall health and fertility.
• For men: Vaping may lower sperm quality and testosterone levels.
• For women: It can upset hormone balance and menstrual cycles, making it harder to get pregnant .

If you’re planning a pregnancy, avoiding vaping is the safest choice.

Visit the Tommy's website for more information on pregnancy and vaping.

If you’re planning a pregnancy, it’s best for you and your partner to stop drinking alcohol. These can harm your health, reduce your chances of getting pregnant, and affect your baby’s development even in the very early stages of pregnancy.

Drinking heavily or often can lower fertility in both men and women. Even light drinking has been shown to reduce the chances of conceiving. Alcohol can also damage both eggs and sperm.

Doctors recommend that if you're pregnant or trying for a baby, the safest choice is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby as low as possible.

If you are worried about your own or your partner's drinking, speak to your GP, they can give you advice and support.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can harm your baby’s brain and body, leading to lifelong challenges known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The safest choice for your baby is no alcohol at all before, during, and after pregnancy.

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Using drugs like cannabis, cocaine, or legal highs can affect fertility in both men and women.

Cannabis is the most commonly used recreational drug. In women, heavy use can upset hormone balance, making it harder to get pregnant. In men, it can affect sperm quality.

Some prescription medications can also cause dependence or may not be safe during pregnancy. If you're taking any regular medication, speak to your doctor before trying for a baby.

If you are planning to have a baby, it's important to start taking folic acid and vitamin D as soon as possible, ideally at least 12 weeks before you conceive.

Folic acid (400 micrograms daily) helps prevent serious birth defects like neural tube defects. Some women may need a higher dose (5mg), especially if they have diabetes, epilepsy, are overweight, or have a family history of these conditions. Speak to your GP if you're unsure.

At the same time, start taking vitamin D (10 micrograms daily) to support your baby’s bone development and your overall health during pregnancy.

If you are planning to get pregnant, eating a healthy, balanced diet will help you stay well throughout pregnancy and be good for your baby’s health.

For both men and women, being overweight or underweight can affect fertility and cause health problems during pregnancy and birth.

Men can also improve the chances of a pregnancy with a healthy, balanced diet because sperm quality can be affected.

Exercise and being active can boost your chances of becoming pregnant.

Any activity that raises your heart rate, makes you breathe faster and makes you feel warmer counts.

Being active by doing regular moderate exercise before you get pregnant can reduce your risk of having problems in pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine) that might harm you or your baby.

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it’s important to plan ahead before getting pregnant.

Good diabetes management can reduce the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and other complications. Aim to get your blood sugar (HbA1c) as close to the target level (below 48 mmol/mol) as safely as possible before conceiving.

If you are taking medication for diabetes, it's important to speak to your doctor to review your treatment.

You’ll also need to take a higher dose of folic acid (5mg daily) which your GP can prescribe. Starting this before pregnancy gives your baby the best start.

When you are thinking about having a baby, it’s important for you and your partner to think about any health problems that might be in your families.

Take a moment to think about any illnesses you or close family members have had. These could sometimes affect a future baby.

Knowing your family’s health history can help you make good choices. If you need help, you can talk to your doctor.

When planning for pregnancy, it's important to consider preconception advice regarding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby.

STIs can affect fertility in both men and women. Some STIs (like chlamydia and gonorrhoea) can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, leading to infertility or ectopic pregnancy.

STIs such as HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B can be passed to the baby during pregnancy or birth. Early detection and treatment can prevent complications and protect both parent and baby.

Testing is available through GP practices, or sexual health clinics.

Some infections, such as rubella (German measles), can harm your baby if you catch them during pregnancy.

Most people in the UK are immune to rubella, thanks to the uptake of the vaccination. If you have not had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine, or you're not sure if you have, ask your GP surgery to check your vaccination history.

If you have not had both doses or there's no record available, you can have the vaccinations at your GP surgery.

You should avoid getting pregnant for 1 month after having the MMR vaccination, which means you'll need a reliable method of contraception.