It is beneficial for all women to schedule a visit with the doctor before trying to conceive. This visit will help you make positive lifestyle changes that will benefit you and help ensure a healthy baby. If you have a chronic illness or are at increased risk for a specific birth defect, preconception counseling is a must before you start trying to have a baby.
Certain factors related to the health of the mother and the family history of both parents can increase the likelihood of certain birth defects. Some of these are heredity such as Tay Sachs Disease or sickle cell anemia. In preconception counseling, the health history of the families of both parents will be discussed to determine if there is an increased risk of any birth defect.
Women with a chronic health condition should consider a preconception counseling session prior to pregnancy. Some chronic health conditions can affect the baby in a negative way. This is particularly true for any chronic health condition that is not completely under control prior to the pregnancy.
One example of this is diabetes. If a woman is diabetic it’s important that she receive regular care by a doctor to ensure the diabetes is under control prior to the pregnancy. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause a wide variety of issues in the pregnancy for both mother and baby.
The typical preconception counseling visit begins with a questionnaire. This asks about various systems in the body and your health relative to each area of the body. In addition, questions are asked about the woman’s lifestyle and family medical history.
Blood tests may be done at the preconception visit. Some of the common tests run include a complete blood count, which can show anemia or infection. If any issues are found in the blood work, they can be resolved with medical care prior to the pregnancy. This helps ensure a healthier baby and mommy.
A urine sample may be taken at the visit as well. This checks for protein in the urine and sugar. Protein is an indicator of diabetes. The sample may also be detected for urinary tract infections, which can cause miscarriage if severe and untreated.
This process gives the doctor a good picture of your overall health and any risks to the baby that may be caused by chronic illness, family history or lifestyle factors. Making positive changes now and treating any medical issues is the best first step to having a healthy baby.
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