Women Veterans Health Care

Pre-pregnancy Health

A healthy pregnancy begins with a healthy you. That's why it's never too early to focus on your health if you are thinking of becoming pregnant.

Preparing for pregnancy includes things like taking care of your mental and physical health, taking prenatal vitamins, and not smoking. But the first step towards a healthy journey to pregnancy is to tell your VA health care provider that you are considering becoming pregnant. They can check your current medications and talk about the risks and benefits of taking them during pregnancy, help you with healthy eating, and work with you to support your mental health before, during, and after your pregnancy.

Your provider may also ask about your military experiences because some conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and experiences of military sexual trauma can affect your mental health and your pregnancy.

If you are not planning pregnancy right away or have a timeline for pregnancy, your provider can help you with family planning.

What services does VA provide for pre-pregnancy health?

VA is committed to making sure that you have access to the full range of comprehensive health, maternity care, and fertility services to support your pre-pregnancy care. VA can also help you prepare for pregnancy with mental health services, housing, and food support.

• Mental Health: Resources to help women Veterans learn about different mental health treatments and services available through VA
• Maternity Care: Information to help women Veterans learn about the maternity care resources and services (such as Maternity Care Coordinators) available through VA
• Homeless Veterans: Programs and resources available to homeless Veterans as well as other housing assistance programs
• Intimate Partner Violence: Information and resources to educate women Veterans about intimate partner violence and resources and support available through VA
• Substance Use: Information and resources to help women Veterans learn about substance use and treatments available through VA
• Infertility Services: Information to help women Veterans learn about the variety of infertility treatments available through VA
• Flagging your medical records: Should you become pregnant or if you are breastfeeding/chestfeeding, this flag will alert providers when ordering risky medications, or X-rays.
• Screening of prescription medications: VA's electronic health record system alerts providers who prescribe any potentially risky medications to women of reproductive age, even before pregnancy or breastfeeding/chestfeeding.

How do I access services for pre-pregnancy health at VA?

The best place to start is with your VA primary health care provider. If you do not have one, call the Women Veterans Program Manager at your local VA. All VA medical centers have a designated Women Veterans Program Manager to help you access VA benefits and health care services.

If you don't already use VA health care, you you may want to use the following online tools:

Find out if you are eligible for VA health care.

Enroll in VA health care if you haven't already.

Find your local VA and make an appointment.

The Women Veterans Call Center is your guide to women's health

If you have questions or can't find what you're looking for, you can call, text, or chat online with the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) at 855-829-6636 to get help and find available resources and services in your area. Trained women representatives can also help you with issues such as:

• Enrolling in VA health care if you have not already
• Setting up a medical appointment in your area
• Answering questions about eligibility (including questions about disability ratings) and other VA benefits like employment, education, and home loans

WVCC representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.

Call  Text  Chat 

Where can I find more information, help, and resources on pre-pregnancy health?

• She Wears the Boots Podcast episode on Maternal Health *
• She Wears the Boots Podcast episode on Reproductive Mental Health *
• Transforming Care for Women at VA *
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Good Health Before Pregnancy *
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Planning for Pregnancy *
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Can You Promote a Healthy Pregnancy Before Getting Pregnant? *

Women Veterans Health Care Videos

Watch videos for and about Women Veterans.

Women Veterans Health Care Outreach Posters

View our Outreach Posters.

return to top