Nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned. This means that most of your baby's organs are starting to develop even though you may not even know you are pregnant. Leading a healthy lifestyle during the reproductive years helps to make sure that an unplanned pregnancy will still have a healthy start.

Couples who plan their pregnancy in advance are able to make changes that will start the pregnancy in a healthy way. Many families who are trying to have babies do not get the positive pregnancy test results until a few weeks or more after conception, so the changes made in advance help the fetus from the very beginning.

The lifestyle choices made prior to pregnancy and in those first few weeks of pregnancy can have dramatic effects on the health of the baby. '

(Adapted from: LGL Health Unit pamphlet 'Planning for Pregnancy: The Preconception Checklist')

The Best Start Resource Centre has an excellent web resource for couples planning a pregnancy. If you would like a copy of the printed booklet 'Is there a baby in your future? Plan for it' please call the health unit at 1-800-660-5853.