Whether you plan to have a baby soon or having kids is way down the road for you, there are
4 things that every girl can do now to help prevent birth defects and having a baby too early.

1. Make a plan
   

   We know that anything can happen at any moment. Making a plan about whether or not we want to have kids guides us towards making our dreams a reality.  Try creating your own reproductive plan.
   

2. 400 mcg of folic acid per day
   

   Folic acid is a vitamin. It is important to every woman.  A daily folic acid vitamin or serving of leafy greens, citrus fruits or whole grains helps to create healthy skin, hair, and nail cells. Also, taking folic acid before and during pregnancies can prevent major birth defects.
   

3. Take care of your beautiful body

• Visit your doctor once a year. Annual visits are like getting an oil change. It’s a way for us to prevent problems from happening. At each visit, ask the doctor any questions or issues you have.
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes each day. Here are some ways to get your body moving.
• Are you getting enough sleep? We deserve our 8 hours of beauty rest. Sleeping gives our bodies a chance to recharge for the next day.
• Eating right for our body keeps us balanced, gives us energy for the day, and can help curb our stress. Here are some tips for healthy eating.
  

4. Be in the know
   

   Knowing your medical history helps you and your doctor figure out your chances of getting certain diseases. Do you or anyone in your family have a chronic illness such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease, or alcoholism? Our tip to keeping track of all of this info can be found at My Family Health Portrait.