Preconception
Complete Preconception Course
A 12-week, step-by-step plan to get your body, lifestyle and practical plans ready before you try for a baby, based on HSE advice.
€22.99Buy
Preparing for pregnancy: courses for the months before you conceive
Plan the months before you try for a baby: supplements, food, alcohol, activity and the questions worth taking to your GP.
- 2 courses
- Tools in every course
- Certificate included
The HSE advises that anyone who could become pregnant should take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid in a supplement every day, starting at least 3 months before conception and continuing through pregnancy. The HSE is clear that you cannot get the amount of folate you need from food alone. Some people need a higher 5mg dose prescribed by a GP, including those with a personal or family history of neural tube defects, a partner with a family history of neural tube defects, obesity, or type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Other parts of preparation matter too. The HSE advises no alcohol when you are trying for a baby, and a pre-pregnancy GP visit is a chance to review medicines, long-term conditions and vaccinations. Eating well using the Food Pyramid, being active in line with Every Move Counts and stopping smoking all help both partners get ready.
Our preconception courses turn that advice into checklists, trackers and an appointment prep sheet. They are general education: they do not assess your fertility or replace advice from your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist.
All preconception courses
Preconception
Vitamins Before Pregnancy (Folic Acid & Vitamin D)
Folic acid and vitamin D before pregnancy: 400 micrograms daily, when to start, who may need 5mg and how to check a supplement label.
€14.99Buy
Which preconception course suits you
- Want everything in one place? The Complete Preconception Course covers supplements, food, weight, alcohol, caffeine, activity, work and both partners' health, with a 12-week preparation plan.
- Mainly unsure about supplements? Vitamins Before Pregnancy (Folic Acid and Vitamin D) explains which supplements the HSE recommends, how to read a label and who may need a higher dose from their GP.
Pregnancy is often not planned. If you could become pregnant, the HSE advice is to take folic acid every day anyway, so it is in place early.
What the preconception tools do
- Pre-pregnancy checklist: the practical steps to work through over the coming months, for you and your partner.
- Supplement checklist and daily tracker: tick off folic acid each day and see your streak.
- Higher-dose eligibility checker: shows whether you should ask your GP about the 5mg dose. It does not prescribe anything.
- GP appointment prep sheet: medicines, conditions, family history and questions, written down before you go.
- Lifestyle tracker and 12-week plan: food, activity, alcohol and sleep, week by week.
When to talk to your GP
Book a GP appointment before you start trying if you:
- take regular medicines, including for epilepsy, mental health or blood pressure; do not stop any medicine without advice
- have diabetes, a thyroid condition or another long-term condition
- or your partner have a personal or family history of neural tube defects such as spina bifida
- have had difficulties in a previous pregnancy
If you think you could be pregnant and have severe one-sided tummy pain, shoulder-tip pain or heavy bleeding, call 112 or 999, or go to the emergency department.
Preconception courses: your questions
When should I start taking folic acid?
At least 3 months before you become pregnant, and every day until the end of pregnancy. The HSE recommendation is 400 micrograms a day for anyone who could become pregnant.
Who needs the higher 5mg dose?
The HSE lists people with a personal or family history of neural tube defects, a partner with a family history of them, obesity, or type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The 5mg dose is prescribed by a GP, so ask yours if any of these apply.
Can I get enough folate from food?
No. Folate-rich foods such as green vegetables and beans are good to eat, but the HSE says you cannot get the amount you need before and during early pregnancy from food alone.
Is a little alcohol fine while trying?
The HSE advises no alcohol when you are trying for a baby or are pregnant.
Should my partner take the course too?
Yes, if they would like to. Several lessons cover both partners' health, including food, alcohol, smoking and activity.
Do the courses help with fertility problems?
No. They cover general preparation for pregnancy. If you have been trying for a while without success, or you have a condition that could affect fertility, talk to your GP.
Official sources
Get ready before you start trying
Start your daily folic acid tracker today and fill in the GP prep sheet before your appointment.