NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026 Hawaii Parent 131 W hich prenatal vitamins should I take? Can I continue doing my normal workouts? Do I really have to eat for two? What foods should I avoid? When you make the decision to have a baby, your mind is suddenly overwhelmed with questions. In your deliberations concerning pregnancy, you probably thought a lot about its impact on your career, finances, and relationship. You might have decided to start a “baby fund” by stashing away extra cash to cover expenses, and you might try to time your pregnancy so that you can finish up a big project before the baby comes. But what are the key things you need to do to prepare your body for this life-changing event? I talked with Dr. Nathan Fujita, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist at The Queen’s Medical Center, to discuss what women can do to prepare their bodies for a healthy pregnancy. Meet With Your Doctor When I asked what the most important thing women should do before getting pregnant, the answer surprised me. But it makes perfect sense: At your appointment, Dr. Fujita says you can ensure that “your chronic diseases are under control.” This includes health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and even your vaccination schedule. Take A Folic Acid Supplement After your appointment, you’ll likely start taking folic acid, which prevents neural tube defects like spina bifida. “These defects form a month after conception, so ideally you should start taking it a month before you start trying to get pregnant since it’s common to be about four weeks into your pregnancy before you know that you’re pregnant,” said Dr. Fujita. The recommended amount is 0.4 milligrams (400 micrograms) a day, which is easily obtained through a good multivitamin or prenatal vitamin. Current medical guidelines state that women with MTHFR gene variants do “Meet with your doctor before trying to conceive.”
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