5 You Should Know BEFORE You Get Pregnant

1. Find an OB/GYN You Trust. Go for regular OB/GYN exams. The tests and advice you can get from your doctor is invaluable.

2. Take Your Vitamins BEFORE You Get Married. Talk to your OB/GYN, but most women should be consuming folic acid and iron before pregnancy.

3. Avoid Certain Foods If You Might Be Pregnant. There are foods to avoid in pregnancy, including early pregancy. This list includes deli meats, lox (sorry bagel fans), and alcohol. Check out the list and reasons at americanpregnancy.org

4. Beware of Spousal Abuse. Instead of disappearing when the baby comes, spousal abuse often translates into child abuse. Any signs of abusiveness in your (future) husband should be taken very seriously and discussed with a Rabbi who takes you seriously and has experience dealing with these issues. An excellent resource for marital problems is The Ness Center.

5. Ashkenazim and Sephardim Should Both Get Tested for Genetic Diseases. Discuss this with your Rabbi, Doctor, and fiancee. Ashkenazic diseases also appear in Sephardim. They are only called "Ashkenazic Diseases" because that was the population it was first studied in. (If you are not yet engaged, you can call Dor Yesharim at 718-384-6060).