Prepare for pregnancy by eating well and taking a daily prenatal vitamin, exercising regularly, getting necessary dental work out of the way, charting your menstrual cycle, and stopping use of any potentially harmful medications or illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and excessive caffeine.

Maintain a healthy pregnancy by eating well, exercising regularly, getting plenty of rest, and avoiding high temperatures and activities that could lead to a fall or abdominal injury.

Do pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises during and after pregnancy to prevent urine control problems (incontinence) after childbirth.

Take childbirth education classes to learn what to expect and how to best handle labor and delivery.

Plan ahead for breast-feeding by learning about breast-feeding and finding a good lactation consultant ahead of time; buying necessary supplies; and making advance arrangements for a private place to pump if you plan to work away from your baby after a maternity leave.

Exercise safely during pregnancy for at least 30 minutes on most, if not all, days of the week. Following types of stretching and strengthening exercises that are well suited to pregnancy:

Back press

Backward stretch

Diagonal curl

Forward bend

Leg lift crawl

Pelvic rocking

Pelvic tilt

Tailor press

Tailor sitting

Tailor stretching

Trunk twist

Upper body bends

Strive for proper nutrition and weight gain during pregnancy. Pay close attention to your folic acid, iron, and calcium intake and the need for slow, gradual weight gain.

Limit your caffeine intake.

A vegetarian diet during pregnancy and breast-feeding requires special attention to getting enough protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and zinc, in addition to the extra folic acid, iron, and calcium that all expectant mothers need. These nutrients are vital to your foetus's cellular growth, brain and organ development, and weight gain.

Calcium is an important nutrient, especially during pregnancy. If you can't or don't eat dairy products, you can get calcium in your diet from nonmilk sources such as tofu, broccoli, fortified orange juice or soy milk, greens, and almonds.

Medications and drug use that aren't approved by your health professional (for example, NSAID use during conception and early pregnancy, which can cause miscarriage)

Papaya, which can cause miscarriage when at all unripe

Alcohol

Tobacco smoke

Hot tubs and saunas

Sources of toxoplasmosis infection, including raw meat, poultry, or seafood; unwashed fruits or vegetables; and cat feces or outdoor soil that cats commonly use

Fish that may contain mercury, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, more than 6 oz (0.2 kg) of white albacore tuna per week, or fish caught in local waters that haven't tested as safe

Hazardous chemicals, radiation, and certain cosmetic products