<unk>  (also called<unk> -conceptual<unk>  is a meeting with a health-care professional (generally a physician or midwife) by a woman before attempting to become<unk> gnant. It generally includes a<unk><unk>  risk assessment for any potential complications of<unk> gnancy as well as modifications of risk factors, such as increasing folic acid intake to reduce the risk of neural tube defects and<unk>  on smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, and medications that may compromise fetal development. Physicians, midwives and baby experts recommend that a woman visit them as soon as the woman is contemplating having a child, and optimally around 3 to 6 months before actual attempts are made to conceive. This time frame allows a woman to better<unk> pare her body for successful<unk>  (fertilization) and<unk> gnancy, and allows her to reduce any health risks which are within her control. Agencies such as the March of Dimes have developed screening tools that healthcare providers can use with their patients. In addition, obstetricians or midwives (see Obstetrics, Midwifery, General Practitioner) have developed comprehensive check-lists and assessments for the woman who is planning to become<unk> gnant. In one sense,<unk>  and assessment can be compared to a well-baby visit in which a baby is screened for normal health, normal development, with the benefit of identifying emerging problems that may have gone unnoticed in an infant. For a woman, the<unk>  Assessment and Screening is intended to assess normal health of a child-bearing woman, while at the same time identifying: *Existing or emerging illness or disease which may have gone undetected before, and *Existing risks for the woman who may become<unk> gnant, and *Existing risks which may affect a fetus if the woman does become<unk> gnant.
Pre-conception counseling
Pregnancy options counseling
Prenatal care
Prenatal testing
Fetal surgery
Prenatal and perinatal psychology
Birth control 
Birth control