"This is an outstanding book for anyone thinking of having a baby."-Lee Salk, Ph. D., author of The Complete Dr. Salk: An A-to-Z Guide to Raising Your Child A classic in the field of preventive medicine, here is an authoritative and comprehensive guide to reducing the risks to your baby before you get pregnant. Written by a pioneer in pregnancy medicine and a New York Times feature writer, Before You Conceive is aimed at parents and includes: • A prepregnancy guide to nutrition: what you should eat-what to avoid• Safe and easy-to-follow exercise guidelines before and during pregnancy • What you should know about over-the-counter and prescription drugs • The importance of your family medical history • Advice on fertility enhancement • How toxins and unsuspected hazards in the workplace and in homes may affect your pregnancy • Immunizations that may help prevent birth defects • Reducing the effects of preexisting medical disorders on your pregnancy • PLUS, information on irregular menstruation, reversing tubal ligation and vasectomy, smoking and passive smoking, alcohol and drugs, your biological clock, and much more!"Prepregnancy planning is an idea whose time has come. This book is a 'should read' for those women and couples thinking about pregnancy who want to prevent problems and paln for an optimal result."-Timothy R. B. Johnson, M. D., Director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine