Thinking about pregnancy?

It’s never too early to plan!

It’s never too early to plan! A baby can change your life. But are you ready? Making decisions about pregnancy can be challenging. Whether you are alone or with a partner, having a baby is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make.

Did you know that you can prepare for a healthy baby before you get pregnant?
Babies start developing before most women even know they are pregnant. We used to think that saving some money, exercising and healthy eating were all we needed to do to get ready to start a family. These choices do make a big difference – but there are more things that men and women can do to improve the health of their future children.

Our resources in English

We also carry a list of Indigenous resources, of resources in French and of resources for newcomers to Canada.

Preconception Health
	Health Before Pregnancy: Is there a baby in your future? - Website Best Start Resource Centre, 2017 This website is designed for people thinking of having a baby in the near future. It raises issues that can affect men and women and the health of their future children, answers commonly asked questions people think about as they consider parenting, and provides information (including web links and phone numbers of places to go and people to talk to for more information) to help them plan for the healthiest baby possible. Visit the Health Before Pregnancy website at healthbeforepregnancy.ca
	My Reproductive Life Plan – Booklet Best Start Resource Centre, 2017 This booklet is for adults who want to have children someday, but not right now. It helps individuals understand how to protect their ability to have children, think about when to have children and how to have the healthiest baby possible when they are ready. Topics include writing a reproductive life plan, physical health, sexual health, mental health, family health history, and next steps. Also included are websites and organizations to support next steps. Also available as a fillable PDF.
	My Life My Plan – Booklet Best Start Resource Centre 2014 This booklet for teens will guide them through six topic areas, providing them with facts and referrals, and the opportunity to respond to a series of questions that will help them to make healthy decisions, set goals and plan for their future. Topics include: physical health, mental health, reproductive health, relationships, family health history and their future. Also available as a fillable PDF.
	Waiting for Baby: Pregnancy After Age 35 - Booklet Best Start Resource Centre in collaboration with Halton Region Health Department, revised 2013 This booklet is designed for women aged 35 or older who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
	Men’s Information : How to Build a Healthy Baby - Booklet Best Start Resource Centre, revised 2012 This brochure contains information specific to men and reproductive health. It includes information to increase a man’s chances of having a healthy baby, a checklist, a readiness questionnaire and references for further information.
Alcohol and drugs
	Risks of Cannabis on Fertility, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Parenting - Livret Best Start Resource Centre, 2019 This resource is for women and men, who are thinking about becoming parents, are pregnant, or who are new parents. It provides information about the effects of cannabis on fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding, on children and adolescents when their mothers used cannabis during pregnancy and on parenting. This resource summarizes the current knowledge about the effects of cannabis. See also: Thinking about using cannabis before or during pregnancy? Thinking about using cannabis while parenting?
	Be Safe - Have an Alcohol Free Pregnancy - Handout Best Start Resource Centre with support from the LCBO, 2012 This handout provides information and tips for expectant parents about alcohol use in pregnancy. Also available in French, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Cree, Hindi, Ojibway, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil and Urdu See also: Be Safe: Have an alcohol-free pregnancy
	Mocktails for Mom - Booklet Best Start Resource Centre with support from the LCBO, 2011 This booklet has recipes for pregnant women for delicious non-alcoholic drinks, also called Mocktails. See also: Be Safe: Have an alcohol-free pregnancy
	Have an Alcohol Free Pregnancy - Brochure Best Start Resource Centre with the support of the LCBO, revised 2009 This colour brochure provides information and tips for expectant parents about alcohol use in pregnancy. See also: Be Safe: Have an alcohol-free pregnancy
Mental Health
	Pregnancy Is Not Always What You Expect - Booklet Best Start Resource Centre, revised 2013 Pregnancy is a time when some women are at greater risk of becoming depressed and/or anxious. This booklet talks about strategies to help women: Take care of their mental health before and during pregnancy. Understand the risk factors that can lead to depression or anxiety during pregnancy. Know if they are depressed or anxious during pregnancy. Get help and treatment.
Nutrition
	Folic Acid - Bilingual poster – French one side, English on the other side Best Start Resource Centre, 2010 This poster shares key messages about taking a multivitamin with folic acid prior to conception, and eating foods rich in folate.
Tobaco misuse
	Creating a Smoke-Free Environment for Your Children - Video Best Start Resource Centre, 2010 This 24 minute video is on the social impact of second-hand smoke on young families. It contains testimonies of situations related to second-hand smoke experienced by families. Many strategies to reduce the exposure of young children and pregnant women to second-hand smoke are provided. Available online on YouTube or Vimeo
	Information on Second and Third-Hand Smoke - Handout Best Start Resource Centre, 2010 This handout is intended to be distributed to the participants when the video "Creating a Smoke-Free Environment for Your Children" is shown. It contains information on second and third-hand smoke, a summary of the strategies offered in the video and sources of supplementary information.
	Smoke-Free Home - Image Best Start Resource Centre, 2011 Originally created as a stcker, this image can be applied on a door or window, indicating that the environment is smoke-free. Size: 7.6cm X 7.6cm or 3" X 3" Also available in JPG format.
Workplace
	Work & Pregnancy Do Mix! - Printer-Friendly Handout Best Start Resource Centre, 2008 This handout is for working women who are or may become pregnant. It provides information on workplace risks, ways to reduce risks and sources of additional information.
	Work & Pregnancy Do Mix... - Booklet Best Start Resource Centre, revised 2011 This booklet is for working women who are or may become pregnant. It provides information on workplace risks, ways to reduce risks and sources of additional information. Available also in French, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Hindi, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil and Urdu