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.
£19.99Buy
Preparing for pregnancy: courses for the months before you conceive
What the NHS advises before you try for a baby, from supplements to lifestyle and a pre-pregnancy chat with your GP, set out step by step.
- 2 courses
- Tools in every course
- Certificate included
The months before pregnancy are a useful time to prepare. The NHS advises anyone who could become pregnant to take a 400 microgram folic acid supplement every day while trying to conceive and until 12 weeks of pregnancy, because a baby's brain and spine start to develop very early, often before a test is positive. A daily 10 microgram vitamin D supplement is also advised in pregnancy.
Some people need a higher 5mg dose of folic acid, which a GP can prescribe, for example if they have diabetes, take certain epilepsy medicines or have a family history of neural tube defects. Our courses explain who this may apply to and how to raise it with your GP, but they never tell you which dose to take.
Food, alcohol, smoking, weight, existing medicines and vaccinations all come into pre-pregnancy planning. The UK Chief Medical Officers advise that if you are pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all. Partners are welcome on every course, since many lifestyle changes are easier to make together.
All preconception courses
Preconception
Vitamins Before Pregnancy (Folic Acid & Vitamin D)
Folic acid and vitamin D before pregnancy: how much, when to start, who may need 5mg and how to check a supplement label.
£12.99Buy
Which preconception course suits you
- Vitamins Before Pregnancy focuses on folic acid and vitamin D, what to avoid (such as supplements containing vitamin A in the form of retinol) and how to read a pregnancy multivitamin label.
- The Complete Preconception Course covers supplements plus food, activity, alcohol, smoking, weight and appointments, with a 12-week preparation planner.
If you have just found out you are pregnant, go straight to the pregnancy courses, and start taking folic acid now if you have not already.
What the preconception tools do
- Pre-pregnancy checklist: the practical jobs to tick off, from checking vaccinations to reviewing medicines with your GP.
- Supplement checklist and daily tracker: record folic acid and vitamin D each day so a missed dose is easy to spot.
- Higher-dose folic acid checker: lists the situations in which the NHS suggests talking to a GP about 5mg. It points you to your GP rather than deciding for you.
- GP appointment prep sheet and 12-week planner: your questions written down in advance, and a week-by-week plan for the months before trying.
When to talk to your GP
Book a GP appointment:
- before you stop contraception, if you have a long-term condition such as diabetes, epilepsy, thyroid disease or high blood pressure, or take regular medicines (do not stop prescribed medicine without advice)
- if you think you may need the higher dose of folic acid
- if you have been trying for a year without getting pregnant, or sooner if you are 36 or over or already know of a possible fertility problem
After a positive test, one-sided tummy pain, pain in the tip of your shoulder or vaginal bleeding need checking the same day: contact NHS 111 or your GP, and call 999 if the pain is severe.
Preconception courses: your questions
When should I start taking folic acid?
The NHS advises taking 400 micrograms a day while you are trying to get pregnant and until you are 12 weeks pregnant. If you find out you are pregnant and have not been taking it, start as soon as you know.
Can I rely on folate-rich foods instead of a supplement?
Foods such as leafy green vegetables, chickpeas and fortified cereals are worth eating, but the NHS still advises a folic acid supplement before and in early pregnancy, as it is hard to get enough from food alone.
Is there a special diet to follow before pregnancy?
No special diet is needed. The Eatwell Guide is the starting point. The main extras are to avoid supplements containing vitamin A (retinol) and to avoid liver and liver products such as pâté.
Should I take an iodine supplement?
The NHS does not routinely advise an iodine supplement. The usual advice is to get iodine from a varied diet, including milk and dairy, white fish and eggs. If you are vegan or unsure, ask your GP or pharmacist about a suitable multivitamin.
Are the courses useful for partners?
Yes. Partners can work through the lifestyle lessons and checklists too, and the planners are designed to be shared.
Can the courses advise on fertility treatment?
No. They cover general preparation only. If you are worried about fertility, your GP can arrange tests and explain the options set out in NICE guidance.
Official sources
Get ready before you start trying
Begin with the supplement checklist, then book a pre-pregnancy chat with your GP if you take regular medicines.