Do I need any vaccinations before pregnancy?

The most important vaccine that you should get prior to pregnancy is the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. Many people received this vaccine during their childhood; however, immunity can wane over time. Your doctor can order a blood test called a titer that looks at your immunity to those diseases and will decide based on your antibody levels whether you should get the vaccine again. Historically, congenital rubella syndrome was a devastating disease that affected newborns whose mothers developed rubella in the first trimester. Thankfully, because of the vaccine, this condition is now rare with fewer than 1,000 cases a year but even those are preventable.