Trimester Zero: A time for women to improve health, diet, and physical fitness to prepare for the time when they want to have a baby.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (PRUnderground) September 20th, 2026

Social media influencers are talking about "trimester zero" or the time before pregnancy when women are working to improve their health, diet, and physical fitness to prepare for the time when they want to have a baby. But some of that content can be overwhelming, inaccurate or over-complicate how to prepare for a healthy pregnancy. 

According to OB-GYNs and midwives at Intermountain Health, the most important part of pregnancy planning is for a woman to schedule a check-up with a trusted provider if she's planning to get pregnant in the next 12 months.  

A pre-pregnancy checkup can help women find out if they have any risk factors for pregnancy complications such as diabetes or high blood pressure, so they can learn about what they can do to improve their chances for a healthy pregnancy. There are tests and screenings that can be done before pregnancy to help women know if they're at risk for these or other complications. 

And for women who know they have high blood pressure, diabetes, a heart condition, or other chronic health conditions like lupus, it's especially important to see their women's health provider before they get pregnant. Knowing their family health history can help their provider identify any medical conditions that may run in the family. 

But, people can't always plan ahead for pregnancy. 

"I tell my patients, almost 41% of pregnancies are a surprise. It's never too late to get information and start making lifestyle changes to improve your own health and create positive changes for both you and the surprise baby!" said Amelia Parrett, MD, an OB-GYN at Intermountain Health based in the Salt Lake City area. 

Women's health providers and the March of Dimes recommend that if a woman is planning a subsequent pregnancy, waiting until their child is 18 months old before trying to get pregnant again helps their body fully recover following pregnancy, and may reduce their risk for premature birth.  

Women who are overweight or underweight prior to pregnancy may be more likely to have health problems during pregnancy. It's recommended they talk to their provider about the right weight for them to work toward before becoming pregnant and how much weight to safely gain during pregnancy. Their provider may check their body mass index or BMI. Knowing their BMI can help their provider calculate the right amount of weight for they to gain during pregnancy. 

"Pregnancy can be a great motivation to learn how to change or adjust their lifestyle habits to increase their chances for a healthy, normal delivery, said Dr. Parrett. 

"I help my patients know how to eat more nutritiously and eat in the right portions during pregnancy. And when moms eat healthier, they can form new habits and also influence their partner and other family members to do the same," she added. 

"Exercise is like the cherry on top. If you haven't been exercising, before you became pregnant, start by walking 7,000 to 10,000 steps each day. Find a type of exercise you like and talk with your doctor about what is safe during pregnancy. Body weight resistance training is especially beneficial," said Dr. Parrett. 

One of the most common pregnancy complications is diabetes 

According to maternal fetal medicine specialists, one of the most common pregnancy complications is diabetes. Diabetes in the U.S. is increasing and having diabetes before getting pregnant or developing diabetes during pregnancy can cause complications for mom or baby. But diabetes can be managed to help moms reduce their risk of complications during pregnancy. 

According to a recent report from the National Institutes of Health, one in nine women in the U.S. has diabetes. And six percent of women who gave birth developed gestational diabetes during their pregnancy. 

When moms have diabetes, it can lead to a higher risk of complications, such as high blood pressure or preeclampsia, preterm birth, cesarean delivery or other delivery complications since their babies are more likely to have a larger than normal birthweight. 

A mom's diabetes puts babies at risk too. When moms have diabetes, their babies are at increased risk for preterm birth, birth defects, stillbirths, respiratory distress, jaundice, birth injuries, and low blood sugar. Babies born preterm may need to spend time in a neonatal intensive care unit or may develop diabetes later in life. 

If moms see their doctor or midwife early -- ideally before they become pregnant - their provider can help ensure their diabetes is well-managed before they become pregnant. 

And if moms start their prenatal visits early in their pregnancy and keep all their prenatal appointments, they can increase their chance of a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby and reduce the risk of complications. 

Women with diabetes can benefit from seeing a maternal fetal medicine specialist (an obstetrician who is trained to manage high-risk pregnancies) for some or all of their prenatal visits. 

Some women who have never had diabetes before may develop diabetes during pregnancy or what's called gestational diabetes. 

Gestational diabetes has no symptoms, so it's important to complete a glucose screening test, which doctors or midwives generally recommend for all pregnant patients between 24-28 weeks. Women who have gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. 

For more information about diabetes and pregnancy or gestational diabetes or to schedule an appointment at the Pregnancy Preparation, Prevention and Risk Evaluation (PREPARE) clinic in maternal fetal medicine at the PREPARE Clinic at Intermountain Medical Center call 801-507-7400 or visit intermountainhealthcare.org 

Original Press Release.