It is a simple fact that if you and your partner are fit, you will give birth to a healthy baby. Therefore work out a plan to get fit before you plan for a baby. But before that most-important decision in your life, there are certain important things to consider:

" Trace out family history of diabetes, or epilepsy or any other hereditary deceases and consult your doctor on this
" Get a genetic counseling done on you and your partner to become sure that you may not be passing on a genetic disorder to your child and risking a defective child.
" Before you see a genetic counselor you should gather information on your family history. And you can weigh your option after knowing the full counseling result and decide the next course of action
" No need to get too alarmed by this suggestion on genetic counseling. Very few parents face threats of genetic disorders and in all likelihood you are going to give birth to a healthy child. Genetic counseling is required in order to be sure that your child faces no such threat and if so what are the corrective steps that you can take before conceiving or after you have conceived
" Any exposure to x-rays, or any other poison like lead etc. at work or at home
" Any possible health problem which need to be first treated before you get pregnant
" If both of you or either of you are on any medication, the details need to be discussed with your doctor. Your doctor may think it essential to change some drugs, stop some before you conceive a child
" Find out all the tests you need to do before conceiving. Tests are important also to detect sexually transmitted deceases for this may affect the pregnancy and health of the child. If there is any history of sexually transmitted deceases, that needs to be revealed to the doctor

IN GENERAL:

" Exercise regularly. This will improve your overall fitness and make you feel good about your self. You will also be able to support your partner better and show your love to her
" Keep a healthy diet. This will improve your immunity level and thus you will remain happy and cheerful through the pre-pregnancy, during-pregnancy and post-pregnancy and be able to do be a worthy support to your partner. If you fall ill, your partner will have double responsibility of taking care of her and you
" Reduce stress. Stress can cause hormonal changes and result in fertility problems
" Quit smoking. If you smoke it is likely that your partner may have problems conceiving.
" Go easy on booze. Heavy drinking can affect sperm quality. Woman should stop drinking completely.

FOR WOMEN IN PARTICULAR

" If you are overweight, try and reduce weight in a healthy way
" Ideally you should start exercising 1-year prior to conceiving. Exercise helps you endure the pregnancy-period and labor pains better. If not a year before, you should start a work-out regimen at least three months before conception so that you body is ready for the challenges of the pregnancy
" Try and take medication in consultation with your doctor beforehand so that conditions which may occur in early pregnancy for example if you need to take folic acid
" The ideal dose of vitamins and minerals for you on doctor's recommendation