How long before becoming pregnant does a woman need to stop drinking and smoking?

By Anonymous November 23, 2010 - 4:46pm

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A friend is planning her first pregnancy soon, although she smokes cigarettes and marijuana daily and drinks on a regular basis, and has done these things for years. I have stressed the importance of getting clean and detoxing as soon as possible, but she seems to think she will be fine if she does it only 1 or 2 months prior. How long before trying for a baby should she stop?

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Pat Elliott Expert HERWriter Guide Blogger

Anon - Your friend's behavior is already affecting her own health which will, of course, impact her ability to conceive and fetal development. If she wants to have the healthiest possible baby she needs to make a full commitment to her own health immediately rather than view it as something she can do a month or two before trying to conceive. Additionally, in preparing to become pregnant, a recently study found that there's an important three to four month window prior to conception in which diet and nutrition play a key role. Please see: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/story?id=8146003&page=1

Thanks for advocating for your friend - I hope you will be successful in getting her to see the need to take her own health seriously. Pat

November 23, 2010 - 5:44pm