BY SANDRA GUY

January marks the start of healthy habits, and that’s especially true for those expecting babies.

In fact, January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month.

Birth defects can happen for many reasons and not all can be prevented. But people can increase their chances of having a healthy baby by making healthy behaviors a habit even before they get pregnant.

One such habit is to get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Folic acid is a B vitamin. If a woman has enough folic acid in her body at least one month before and during pregnancy, it can help prevent major birth defects of the developing baby’s brain and spine.

Women can get folic acid from fortified foods or supplements, or a combination of the two, in addition to a varied diet rich in folate. That includes eggs, beets, bananas, papaya, avocado, broccoli, asparagus, brussels sprouts, leafy greens such as kale, spinach and arugula, and citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit.

Other key to-dos:

See a healthcare professional regularly. Be sure to see a doctor when planning a pregnancy and start prenatal care as soon as possible.

Talk to a healthcare provider about taking any medications. 

Keep diabetes under control.  Monitor your blood sugar levels, follow a healthy eating plan developed with your healthcare provider or dietician, stay physically active and take insulin as directed.

Avoid risk, including drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and ingesting marijuana and other drugs. 

Avoid overheating and treat fever promptly. During pregnancy, a woman should avoid overheating and treat fever promptly. Overheating can be caused by a fever or exposure to high temperatures (such as getting in a hot tub) that increases a woman’s core temperature.

The CDC offers a toolkit of resources on these and related topics at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/index.html.