Gestational calendar wheels have traditionally been used by maternity caregivers to predict likely due dates and calculate patients’ current gestational stage. The idea for the Pregnancy Planning Guide arose in 1999 from evaluation of the Maternity Care Calendar and Guidelines.1,2 The Calendar was developed to assist maternity caregivers in following the course of each patient’s pregnancy using a modified gestational wheel and an evidence-based checklist summarizing recommended interventions for prenatal care.

During evaluation of the Calendar, pregnant women were asked how they thought it could be improved. These women repeatedly suggested that they would find a similar rotational calendar useful for planning pregnancy. As a result, we adapted the format of the Calendar to one more appropriate for planning pregnancy. Searches of print material and the Internet failed to turn up a pregnancy planner that combined evidence-based information with a visually appealing and concise way of planning and following pregnancies.

Taking Care of Your Baby and Yourself

Keeping your blood glucose as close to normal as possible before you get pregnant and during your pregnancy is the most important thing you can do to stay healthy and have a healthy baby. Your health care team can help you learn how to use meal planning, physical activity, and medications to reach your blood glucose goals. Together, you’ll create a plan for taking care of yourself and your diabetes.

Pregnancy causes a number of changes in your body, so you might need to make changes in the ways you manage your diabetes. Even if you’ve had diabetes for years, you may need changes in your meal plan, physical activity routine, and medications. In addition, your needs might change as you get closer to your delivery date.

How Diabetes Can Affect You and Your Baby

High blood glucose levels before and during pregnancy can