Daily HealthBeat Tip

Before better babies

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

To the baby, there is no such thing as a surprise baby. From conception, a baby grows according to its genetic blueprint. And a woman's health habits can make a difference in how the blueprint looks. So women who could become pregnant, even by surprise, should take care of their health.

It's called preconception care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Hani Atrash says the goal is to promote the health of mothers and babies by acting before pregnancy:

"Research demonstrates that by the time women seek early prenatal care, at two to three months of pregnancy, all of the baby's organs would have been formed, and it is too late to take action." (11 seconds)

Recommendations were in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Steps include not smoking, not drinking, taking folic acid supplements, and getting vaccinations and checkups.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: June 13, 2006

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