It's been your dream to give birth to a healthy, happy baby. If you've been taking your health for granted such as getting by on little sleep, poor diet, or smoking heavily, it's time to assess your lifestyle and make some changes. You want to start with a very healthy body, and you want to minimize risk factors that can hurt the baby or hurt you. By making healthy lifestyle changes, you go a long way to boost your chances of getting pregnant with a healthy and happy baby. If you've been using oral until you have your next menstrual period before conceiving. Fertility after stopping birth control can sometimes be delayed but isn't permanently affected.

To prevent birth defects, miscarriage, or stillbirth that can be caused by such infections as rubella or measles, get all required immunizations and wait the recommended period of time before trying to get pregnant.

It's also important to discuss with your health expert about whether to have cystic fibrosis carrier screening before getting pregnant. This is useful because if you or your partner have a family history of cystic fibrosis, it'll provide both of you with valuable information about the risks involved, which may affect the child.