Preconception Health

What do we know about alcohol and pregnancy?

• It is safest not to drink during pregnancy.
• A partner's drinking does not result in FASD, but it has an important influence on birthing parent's consumption, and on healthy infant and child development.

Reasons for drinking alcohol are complex. Speak with your health care provider for help.

For more information, visit our alcohol page.

References

CanFASD. (2023). Common Messages: Guidelines for talking and writing about FASD. https://canfasd.ca/wp-content/uploads/publications/CanFASD-Common-Messages-Guide-2023_FINAL-1.pdf

Both partners should quit smoking before pregnancy to increase chances of conception as well as to be healthy and risk free. Smoking and second-hand smoke can:

• Lower a male's sperm count
• Decrease a female's fertility
• Increase the risk for miscarriage, premature births,
• Increase the risk of labour and delivery complications

Medications that are known to cause harm will do so within the first few weeks of pregnancy, when the baby's major body systems are forming, and often before you know you are pregnant. If you are taking a medication that is known to be damaging to babies, you may need to switch to a medication that is safer but still right for you.

It is important to discuss with your doctor the risks of medications that you are taking.

Eating well before you become pregnant will help prepare your body to meet the dietary needs of your developing baby when you do conceive. The recommended number of servings per day for females aged 19 to 50 are as follows:

• 7 to 8 servings of vegetables and fruit
• 6 to 7 servings of grain products
• 2 servings of milk and alternatives
• 2 servings of meat and alternatives

The recommended number of servings per day for males aged 19 to 50 are as follows:

• 8 to 10 servings of vegetables and fruit
• 8 servings of grain products
• 2 servings of milk and alternatives
• 3 servings of meat and alternatives

Folic acid (vitamin B9) helps grow and protect cells in your body. Folic acid before conception and during pregnancy decreases the risk of birth defects such as neural tube defects, heart and limb defects, urinary tract anomalies and oral facial clefts. Folate (natural source of folic acid) is found in dark green, leafy vegetables, citrus fruit, whole grains, and other foods. To increase your intake of folate, be sure to eat the following foods:

• Fortified grains
• Spinach
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Peas
• Brussels sprouts
• Corn
• Oranges
• Folic acid is also included in most multivitamins

Learn more about nutrition during pregnancy.

Exercise decreases the risks that stem from obesity during pregnancy, which can include:

• gestational diabetes
• high blood pressure
• pre-eclampsia
• postpartum hemorrhage
• miscarriage
• still birth
• caesarean section
• neural tube defects

Women who are fit before pregnancy have fewer aches and pains and more energy during their pregnancy. Being active on a regular basis by doing activities such as brisk walking, swimming, or yoga will make a difference to weight management and general well-being.

Learn more about physical activity.

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when you're considering pregnancy, and one of those should be to make sure your vaccines are up-to-date before becoming pregnant.

Some infections, such as rubella, can cause complications and harm to your baby if contracted during pregnancy. Your vaccines must be completed three months before becoming pregnant, as vaccines that are live virus (measles, mumps and rubella, for example) can be harmful if received while pregnant.

Street drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and inhalants are dangerous for you and for your future child. They can affect your energy, motivation, judgment, appetite, sleeping patterns, memory, and mental health.

Addictions take time to overcome and it may not be possible to quit using drugs if you become pregnant. If street drugs are taken during a pregnancy, there are risks for the baby such as addiction and withdrawal, brain damage, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and low birth weight.

Learn about getting a healthy high.

Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be cured and some cannot. Herpes, Hepatitis B, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are STIs that cannot be cured and can be transferred to the baby during pregnancy and birth. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, bacterial vaginosis, and syphilis are STIs that can be transferred to the baby during birth but can also can be cured if treated.

You can reduce the risk of getting an STI by avoiding these high-risk situations:

• Having many partners
• Not using condoms during sexual contact
• Having anal sex without condoms
• Injecting or using street drugs
• Sharing needles

Symptoms of an STI are not always visible, so it is important to use condoms, limit the number of sexual partners, and ask new partners about their sexual history. If you have an STI and become pregnant, or get one while pregnant, talk to your health provider.

• Your Journey Starts Here. The facts on pregnancy and childbirth from Canada's experts.
• Healthy Baby, Healthy Brain