Most women know they should give up cigarettes and alcohol when they are pregnant but the time before conception is just as important, says United States author and pregnancy specialist Heidi Murkoff.
In her new book, What to Expect Before You're Expecting, Murkoff tells parents-to-be what they can do maximise their chances of having a healthy baby.
The book covers everything from pre-conception health and the science behind successful sperm and egg meetings, to bumps couples may encounter on the baby-making road.
Q: So what should you expect before you are expecting?
A: A lot of planning and preparation.
Everyone's preconception to-do list will be a little bit different.
Both partners need to quit smoking and cut back on alcohol and [they] should see their doctors for a complete preconception checkup.
Q: What advice for men.
A: It definitely takes two healthy bodies to make a healthy baby and not just in the obvious way.
A dad contributes fully half of that baby-to-be's DNA.
So he, too, has preconception planning and preparation to do.
Q: Are couples putting more planning into pregnancy?
A: Actually, about half of all pregnancies are still unplanned, but major health organisations are trying hard to change that statistic.
They're urging couples to consider adding at least three months, and often up to a year, to what has always been considered a nine-month process. [Science] has changed the way that scientists, doctors, and parents look at pregnancy.
Sure, you can still take the "oops" approach to pregnancy, but the perks of preconception planning and preparation are compelling.
Q: Have we become excessive "baby planners"?
A: I think women today plan more for everything they do and certainly that's true of planning for pregnancy and parenting.
You can take it to an extreme [but] stressing out about getting pregnant can actually keep you from getting pregnant.
By all means plan, prepare, take this process seriously, but don't forget to relax and enjoy yourselves.
Q: What are the most important things readers can take home from the book?
A: The single most important thing [is] that a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby don't begin at conception - they begin before you're expecting.
For instance, taking a prenatal vitamin for up to a year before conception can reduce the risk of birth defects, reduce the risk of pre-term labour and reduce the chances that you'll get hit hard by morning sickness.