Preconception Counseling and Pregnancy Planning

Expert Guidance for Your Healthiest Start

female patient on exam table smiling at physician

Key Takeaways

Schedule a preconception consultation at least 3 months before you plan to conceive.
See a specialist if you have irregular periods, trouble getting pregnant or past pregnancy losses.
UChicago Medicine offers prenatal care at two Chicagoland family birth centers — Hyde Park and UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial in Harvey.

A preconception consultation helps you prepare physically and emotionally for pregnancy by addressing your medical history, lifestyle factors and potential health risks before you conceive. At UChicago Medicine, our specialists provide comprehensive pregnancy planning services designed to give you and your baby the best possible start.

Ready to start your journey? Request an appointment with one of our experienced obstetricians or midwives today.

What is a preconception consultation and why does it matter?

A preconception consultation is a visit with a doctor or midwife to help you prepare physically and emotionally for pregnancy — before you conceive. If you're thinking about getting pregnant, scheduling an appointment is an important first step.

During your visit, we'll review the medical and family history of both biological parents and discuss:

When to stop birth control to give your body time to regulate
Medication adjustments for prescriptions that could be harmful during pregnancy
Prenatal vitamins and supplements based on your individual health needs
Lifestyle changes including stopping alcohol use and smoking
Recommended immunizations to protect you from illness during pregnancy
Genetic testing options to identify conditions that could affect your pregnancy or baby

How early should I schedule a preconception consultation?

Schedule a preconception consultation at least 3 months before you start trying to get pregnant. This allows time to make lifestyle changes, begin prenatal vitamins, update vaccinations and address any medical conditions that could affect your pregnancy.

When should I consider fertility counseling?

If you've experienced difficulty getting pregnant or have a history of miscarriages, fertility counseling can help identify underlying causes and treatment options. Our fertility specialists at UChicago Medicine have helped countless families overcome male and female fertility challenges. We offer comprehensive fertility testing and diagnosis using the latest diagnostic tools, along with a full range of treatment options.

What should I expect during fertility counseling?

During fertility counseling, specialists review your medical history, perform diagnostic testing and discuss factors affecting conception. Testing may include hormone evaluations, imaging studies and assessments for both partners to identify potential obstacles.

What prenatal care services are available at UChicago Medicine?

Once you are pregnant, our team supports you through every stage of your pregnancy. Our prenatal care includes:

Regular prenatal checkups and monitoring
Ultrasound evaluations and fetal assessments
High-risk pregnancy care through our maternal-fetal medicine specialists
Prenatal classes taught primarily by our expert team of labor and delivery nurses

Request an appointment to begin your pregnancy planning journey with our compassionate care team.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy Planning

Do irregular periods affect your ability to get pregnant?

Yes, irregular periods make it harder to know when you are ovulating — the short window each month when pregnancy is possible.

Irregular periods are often a sign of an underlying condition, such as:

Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS)
Thyroid disease
Perimenopause

If your periods are irregular or unpredictable, a preconception consultation is a good first step. Our specialists can help identify the cause and work with you on a plan — whether that means treating an underlying condition, tracking your cycle more precisely or exploring fertility treatment options.

When should I start taking prenatal vitamins?

What lifestyle changes should I make before getting pregnant?

Does UChicago Medicine offer high-risk pregnancy care?

Yes. Our maternal-fetal medicine specialists provide care for high-risk pregnancies, including preconception counseling, specialized prenatal monitoring and access to our state-designated perinatal network. If you have had a pregnancy complication in a previous pregnancy, it may be helpful to speak with a specialist in high-risk pregnancies to see if there are ways to improve your next pregnancy journey.

Our reproductive endocrinology team can also provide testing and treatment for women who have had two or more miscarriages (recurrent pregnancy loss).

We also are one of the few centers in the U.S. offering transabdominal cerclage to women with a history of second trimester loss from cervical insufficiency.

Two Chicagoland Family Birth Centers: Hyde Park and Harvey

With birth centers at our Hyde Park campus and at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial in Harvey, the University of Chicago Medicine also offers personalized prenatal care in several convenient locations for Chicagoland families. Learn more about the specialists on our care teams, available locations for prenatal care, and the remarkable care you'll experience when you choose our Hyde Park or Harvey birth centers.

Obstetrician Maryam Siddiqui, MD, cradles a newborn at the mother's bedside at the Family Birth Center in Hyde Park

Mother in medical gown kissing newborn baby on forehead