Our goal is healthy moms and healthy babies. Meeting with our providers prior to pregnancy can help achieve that goal. You can have a big impact on your ability to conceive a baby (your fertility), as well as creating a healthy start to your pregnancy, simply by making healthy choices.
Folate, or folic acid, is a B vitamin that is in many foods and most all multivitamin supplements. It is recommended that every reproductive-age woman take a minimum of 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of folate daily—ideally for 3 months but a minimum of 1 month before becoming pregnant. Many obstetricians prefer more than the minimum amount of folate: 800 to 1000 mcg (0.8 to 1mg). This folate needs to be a vitamin supplement in addition to any amount you may get in your diet in an effort to lower the risk of neural tube defects or spina bifida, as well as lessen the risk of cleft lip and palate and heart defects. Some women need much more than the minimum 400 mcg of folate, especially those with a family history of neural tube defects and those with diabetes, as well as obese women.
Smoking tobacco and e-cigarettes is associated with preterm delivery, stillbirth, and birth defects. Smoking also increases the risk of low birth weight and a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Stopping before pregnancy is your best option. Call 800-quit-now for help or talk with your Women First Care Team.
Even today, alcohol use during pregnancy is one of the most common preventable causes of developmental delay. You should stop all alcohol once you have a positive pregnancy test, and avoid heavy drinking (more than 2 drinks per day) or binge drinking (more than 5 drinks per day) while you are trying to get pregnant. Even moderate drinking (1-2 drinks per day) has been associated with attention deficit and memory problems in children, so no amount of alcohol is considered safe during pregnancy.
Oxycodone, hydrocodone, Xanax, Valium, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and illicit drugs must be avoided before and during pregnancy. They can cause premature birth and low birth weight, in addition to causing your baby to become addicted to the drug during pregnancy. After birth, your baby may go through withdrawal—neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)—and require prolonged medical stay.
Pregnancy is an opportunity to adopt healthy habits and make lifestyle changes that can last a lifetime, benefiting you and your entire family.
It is important to maintain your ideal body weight (body mass index 18.5-25) when you are trying to get pregnant. Obesity (body mass index greater than 30) is associated with problems getting pregnant and first trimester miscarriage, as well as birth defects and pregnancy complications. It’s best to optimize your weight before getting pregnant—for your health as well as that of your baby.
Many medical conditions need to be addressed and controlled before pregnancy for the best chance of a healthy mom and baby. See your doctor or health care provider before you get pregnant if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, heart or kidney disease, or depression or anxiety that requires treatment.
Thyroid disease can cause problems getting pregnant, miscarriage, and lower intellectual functioning in your baby. If you are taking thyroid replacement for low thyroid, your needs increase very early in pregnancy. If you are taking thyroid medicines (including synthroid), call the Women First office once you have a positive pregnancy test so we can tell you what you need to do.
There are many medicines you should avoid and many medicines you need to continue taking when you are trying to become pregnant. You should address any prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal medicines you take with your doctor or Care Team before you get pregnant.
Discuss with your doctor if you have had a prior complicated pregnancy, especially if you have had a prior stillbirth or preterm delivery. You should also discuss any blood pressure or preeclampsia problems in the past.
The Zika virus is spread primarily through infected mosquitos or unprotected sex with someone who is infected by Zika. Even if they show no symptoms, it can be passed from a woman to the fetus during pregnancy. Becoming infected during pregnancy can pass the virus to your fetus, resulting in potentially severe fetal birth defects such as microcephaly (small head).
Therefore, pregnant women or women trying to become pregnant should not travel to areas with risk of Zika. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines are for any man or woman who has recently traveled to a place with a CDC Zika travel notice to delay getting pregnant. Women need to wait 8 weeks and men need to wait 3 months after the last possible exposure or after any symptoms started before trying to conceive. During this waiting period, couples should use condoms or not have sex.
Zika travel recommendations change frequently so visit the CDC to keep up with the most current recommendations.
Mercury is a metal that builds up in your body, and you can pass the metal to your baby during pregnancy. High mercury levels can cause brain damage, hearing and vision problems, and developmental delay. People cannot clear mercury so it builds up over time. A common source of mercury for people is eating certain types of fish. Fish get mercury from the water they swim in and from eating other fish that have mercury in them. There are only a few types of fish that reproductive-age women and children should avoid. The fish to avoid are tuna, swordfish, shark, tilefish, king mackerel, marlin, and orange roughy. You can have 3 cans per week of canned tuna (tuna salad).
Dental problems are associated with pregnancy complications, so stay up-to-date with your dental visits and teeth cleanings before you become pregnant.
If there is a family history of any birth defect, chromosomal disorder, developmental delay, or congenital anomaly for you or your partner, see if you can get a diagnosis or details from your family to discuss with your Women First doctor or health care provider. Certain ethnicities or groups of people are at a higher risk of carrying a gene that may put their baby at risk of an inherited genetic disease. The most common genetic disease in Caucasians is cystic fibrosis and, in African Americans, it is sickle cell. Also, people of Jewish ancestry are at risk of several genetic diseases. We now have several inexpensive blood tests that can screen you for a carrier of many different diseases. We also have the technology to prevent a couple from having a baby with a specific disease when both parents are carriers. Learn more about our genetic screening.
There are thousands of genes on our chromosomes, and many of us are carriers of a specific gene defect without being aware of it. When your partner carries the same recessive gene, your child has a 25% chance of receiving both genes and getting the disease. Examples of these types of recessive genetic diseases, which affect one in 400 births, include cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia.
A simple blood test can screen you or your partner to see if you are a carrier of almost 200 genetic diseases that are relevant to pregnancy and babies. When we only screen based on ethnicity and family history, we miss 80% of carriers. An expanded genetic carrier blood test can be done at any time, pre-conceptually or during pregnancy.
Is it Time to Schedule Your Annual Wellness Exam?
Your annual women’s health appointment is a vital part of your health care, and the perfect time to talk to your Care Team about your personal health questions.
Is it Time to Schedule Your Annual Wellness Exam?
What People Are Saying
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Lindsey Kaelin26 October 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Truly one of the best women’s health visits I have ever had! Emily Fountain is so incredible and listened to all of my concerns and offered so many options to me that have NEVER been offered to me by any other healthcare provider before. I felt truly cared for. The staff is amazing and kind and QUICK! And the office is beautifully decorated and clean. I will never go anywhere else ever again!Posted on Google
Madison Buckner19 October 2026It can be difficult to feel heard when it comes to women’s health, however Dr. Aiken always takes her time & answers question’s thoroughly. Couldn’t recommend her enough!Posted on Google
Lauren Hayes25 September 2026Ultrasound tech, Emma, was phenomenal! She was so compassionate and took her time to make our experience great. We really appreciate the care she took during our ultrasound.Posted on Google
Sidney12 August 2026Highly recommend! From the moment I walked in to the moment I walked out, my care was thoughtful, caring, and the furthest thing from feeling dismissed at a doctor’s office. Ellie did a wonderful job making me feel heard, comfortable and validate what I had been experiencing. For a first visit, I left feeling reassured and grateful that I chose this office.Posted on Google
Charisa McMahon21 July 2026I highly recommend Audrey Fenwick. She truly takes the time to listen and never makes me feel rushed during my appointments. I always feel like my concerns are heard and taken seriously. What I appreciate most is that she’s willing to explore different treatment options rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. She works with me until we find a plan that we’re both comfortable with, and I always leave feeling confident that I’ve received thoughtful, personalized care. It’s refreshing to have a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable, compassionate, and genuinely invested in helping her patients feel their best.Posted on Google
Amy Curry26 June 2026Dr. Shannon was a great provider during my last pregnancy with twins! She answered every question I had, kept me in the loop on all the clinical decisions and options I had available, and made me feel safe and heard during all of my interactions with her and her staff. All of the staff at Women’s first always took great care of me and my babies no matter what concern I had at the time.Posted on Google
Rhonda Eichenberger20 June 2026They are always all so nice and welcoming. I just love Brook McAfee, APRN, she is awesome!Posted on Google
Robin12 June 2026Dr Grider is the best Doctor. Very thorough, kind and personable!Posted on Google
Cathy Carter4 June 2026I cannot tell you how pleased I am with the services provided by Dr. Anne L. Oliphant and the staff at Women First of Louisville. Dr. Oliphant and staff exhibit outstanding professionalism, punctuality and courtesy. I highly recommend Dr. Oliphant based on the fact that she is an exceptionally skilled and compassionate physician who truly takes the time to listen to her patients. Throughout my appointments, she and the staff made me feel completely at ease. She thoroughly explained my diagnosis and patiently answered all my questions without ever making me feel rushed. I had to do bloodwork during my last appointment. The clinicians and staff were especially friendly and professional as well. Dr. Oliphant’s, and the staff’s, empathetic bedside manner and clear communication elicit standout medical providers in the specialized field of menopause medicine. I believe that Dr. Oliphant has really listened to my concerns and has taken the time to support my health journey. I highly recommend her and the staff to anyone seeking personalized and highly effective care.Posted on Google
Nancy Nance3 June 2026I have been a patient here for over 25 years. The best of care for any need I have had ! Simply the best !
