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For something so simple?a sperm meets an egg and, nine months later, a baby is born?there can be an awful lot of tests and procedures, even before trying to get pregnant. While the checkups and screenings for immunity can be overwhelming, it?s important to remember that they?re all there to make sure you and your baby will be as healthy as possible.
Pre-pregnancy checkup

Before you ditch the birth control, it?s important to book a checkup with your doctor. You should be prepared to talk about your family medical history and that of your partner, as well as your medical history, medications you?re currently taking and your lifestyle. This can help your doctor assess which tests may be needed.
A healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise, is especially important during pregnancy, says Christina Sun, an OB/GYN at Lakeridge Health, a community hospital in Oshawa, Ont. If you?re overweight, your doctor may recommend making changes to your diet and getting more exercise, as even losing a small amount of weight can have a positive effect on your fertility and help you stay healthy throughout your pregnancy. Ultimately, having healthy eating habits and being physically active matters more than the actual number on the scale. Sun also encourages her patients to stop drinking alcohol, taking recreational drugs, and smoking before trying to get pregnant. Your doctor might also do basic blood and urine tests for various sexually transmitted infections and review you...