This is the time when couples begin to seriously think about conceiving. However, most couples do not realize that there are certain things to consider in order to provide the best environment for a growing baby. If you are thinking about becoming pregnant next month or next year, you need to come in to make sure that you have "all your ducks in a row" before you have your own lil' duckie.

Here are a few areas that we discuss during a preconception counseling appointment:

• Annual Exam: When was your last annual exam? We need to assess your baseline health status to establish where you are regarding your health.
• Tests: We need to know what your blood type is; if you are Rubella Immune; If you have had all necessary immunizations. Also, depending on your ethnicity, there are certain tests that we need to do to see if you carry a certain gene that may affect your pregnancy. For some couples, genetic testing may be an additional group of tests that need to be done.
• Nutrition: Did you know that you need to be taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid, a B vitamin that helps to prevent birth defects BEFORE you become pregnant? We will assess your nutritional status and make dietary recommendations to ensure your body is getting what it needs from the foods you eat.