Q – Besides taking prenatal vitamins, are there other nutritional guidelines I should follow before getting pregnant or trying to conceive?

A – To help prevent neural tube defects doctors now recommend that women take Folic Acid, a B vitamin, for at least six weeks prior to getting pregnant and to continue it until at least 6 weeks after getting pregnant. Folic acid is found in prenatal vitamins but it can also be found in most multivitamins. I usually suggest women use a multivitamin before conception and then switch to a prenatal vitamin saving a bit of money. Other than Folic Acid the only other recommendation is to follow a healthy diet and exercise program, standard healthy living advice.

See also our article on Conception and our ovulation predictor.

Linda Ducholke is the UrbanMommies Family Doctor and more of her comments can be found in our expert section.