Assess Your Health Before Trying For a Baby

Whether you are becoming a first-time mother, planning for a second or a third child, consulting a doctor to get a preconception checkup is an important component of preconception planning. If you want to get ready for the healthiest pregnancy possible, consulting a doctor beforehand is a good starting point.

Are You Planning a Preconception Checkup?

A preconception checkup is the first step to checking your physical and emotional readiness for a baby and is a smart move. A preconception checkup will help you ascertain any underlying health issues and take corrective measures. This is indeed a requirement, especially if this is your first pregnancy or you have had a complicated pregnancy before. A preconception checkup will ensure that you do not meet any ugly surprises, and your doctor will always have a baseline to refer to during the time you are pregnant.

3 months to a year before getting pregnant is a good time to visit a doctor for a preconception checkup. This provides enough time for you and your doctor to address any health issue that might threaten your pregnancy in the future.

Questions Your Doctor Will Ask on Your Next Preconception Checkup

Never find it tiring if your doctor asks ‘too many questions while the checkup session is on. It’s necessary to ensure a smooth pregnancy. Your practitioner can ask questions pertaining to any past or current medical conditions that can affect conception or your pregnancy. If you know your doctor already, he will be aware of a lot of your medical history. However, if the doctor is new, it would be wise to carry all your previous medical records and other things that might be linked to your ability to get pregnant.

Here are 10 probable questions that your doctor might ask you on your next preconception checkup.

1. Whether you have had any sexually transmitted infection (STI) before your pregnancy.
2. About the Pap smears tests.
3. Birth control that you are using.
4. The lifestyle that you follow. They may advise changing/altering the same if it is not conducive to pregnancy. For example, the doctor can ask you to cut down on caffeine and completely stop smoking and drinking.
5. Whether you have conceived before and any past history of miscarriages and pregnancy complications.
6. Any chronic disease and medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, blood clotting disorders, blood pressure, thyroid disease etc. that can lead to complications during your pregnancy.
7. Mental health issues such as postpartum depression during your past pregnancy, and your emotional and social readiness to have a baby.
8. Oral health of the woman to ensure that there are no dental issues that need to be addressed before pregnancy.
9. Any surgery that you might have had before you got pregnant.
10. Allergies.
11. Current medications and supplements that you are taking.
12. Your current diet patterns and habits to check if any changes are needed before you conceive.

Preconception Checkup Tests

• Your doctor might suggest you go for a full pelvic, vaginal and breast exam and a pap smear.
• They will take your weight, height, and blood pressure as well.
• You will need to have a blood test, as well as a urine culture test. The blood tests will cover the checkup for varicella (i.e. chicken pox), blood type and Rh factor, rubella, syphilis and iron.
• You may also be advised a glucose tolerance test to check for diabetes.
• Sometimes you also need to have vitamin D as well as thyroid hormone tests.
• You also need to get a blood test for your partner too to know his blood type.
• Doctors may also test for sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV.
• Some doctors do prescribe a genetic screening if you or your partner have a family history of genetic diseases. It may also be done if you are above the age of 35 or have had recurrent miscarriages. Genetic screening also depends on your ethnic and family history.

Are Your Vaccinations Upto Date?

To get a vaccine or not to get a vaccine will be a big question at this point. A doctor or a medical professional will be the best person to guide you in this aspect. Having said that, here are a few pointers for you to keep in mind.

• Some of the vaccines, mainly the live vaccines, should not be presented to a woman planning a baby as these can prove to be quite harmful to the baby in case conception happens.
• There are certain vaccines that are safe and highly recommended for women, before, during, and even after pregnancy to not just keep them healthy but their babies too.
• The antibodies that the mother develops due to these vaccines will not just protect her, but also cross the placenta to help protect the babies from any serious disease earlier in life.
• Getting vaccinated during pregnancy will further help the mother from getting any serious disease and pass the protection to the newborn as well.

[Read : Vaccinations Before Planning A Baby]

Do You Have Any Chronic Medical Conditions?

Chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis are some of the leading causes of disabilities and deaths in many parts of the world. Over 40% of adults suffer from chronic disease. Moreover, these chronic diseases are highly responsible for around 23% of all hospitalization.

If you are thinking of getting pregnant and are suffering from chronic diseases, consult a specialist doctor right away.

Prepare your body for the pregnancy condition for a minimum of 3 months before the actual conceiving date.

In case your health condition affects the pregnancy, you might have to take a longer time to get the body ready for your baby. Only a well-trained doctor will be able to guide you with the right steps and precautions.

Are You Taking Any Medications or Supplements?

Medications and supplements are known to cause health issues and sometimes even serious birth defects in the baby. Here is what you need to know.

Taking some medicines during pregnancy might result in some serious birth defects in the baby. Such medications include some OTC and prescription medicines, or even dietary or herbal supplements. In case you are planning to get pregnant, you might have to discuss the need for any medicine with the doctor before becoming pregnant. Always be sure that you only go for the medicines which are absolutely necessary.

If you are suffering from any chronic diseases or autoimmune conditions, always consult a specialist such as an immunologist before conceiving. A good doctor will work with your gynecologist to ensure a healthy and safe pregnancy for you. Creating a proper plan before pregnancy will help increase the woman to increase chances of a healthy pregnancy.

Have you Started Taking Any Preconception Supplements?

A healthy body equals a healthy baby. So, you might want to take some health supplements, as well, but of course under medical supervision.

• Before you conceive, you need to take a supplement containing folic acid as it decreases the chance of having a neural tube defect in your baby. Your doctor is likely to recommend you take 400 mcg of it daily before conception as well as in your early pregnancy.
• If you are already on some medicines for some health issue, the doctor may change or alter the dosage.
• You may be required to take multivitamins. Your multivitamins should never contain more than the suggested allowances. Excessive intake of certain vitamins can be harmful. For example. daily consumption of more than 770 mcg RAE of retinol or vitamin A during your pregnancy may cause some birth defects.
• The doctor may also suggest some other medication or supplements based on your current health conditions to ensure a safe and healthy conception and pregnancy.

Are You at Risk of Any Sexually Transmitted Infections?

STDs can complicate a pregnancy and will have some serious effects on not just you but on your developing baby too. You can see some of these issues just at birth and others might not even be discovered until months or years after birth. Gonorrhea is one common STD in some parts of the world.

Untreated STD infections during pregnancy may lead to miscarriages, lower birth weight or premature birth, premature rupture of membranes, and more. This same infection can infect an infant during delivery as the infant passes through the birth canal. So, getting these issues treated before you conceive is vital.

Do You Have a Family History of Any Specific Medical Conditions?

Before you plan to conceive, it is always important to learn about your and your partner’s family health history. It will give your baby the best start needed. In case any one of you has any family health history of a birth defect, newborn screening disorder, developmental disability, or even genetic disease, the baby might be likely to have this condition.

A genetic counsellor or a specialist will suggest how you can identify the possibility of this condition in your baby either during pregnancy or immediately after birth. When conceiving through assisted reproductive methods, you can also opt for genetic testing which will help you identify any possible issues at a very early stage.

[Read : What is Genetic Carrier Screening Test and How is it Done?]

How Old Are You and Your Partner?

Age is a major point of concern when you are trying to conceive. With growing age, women might face some difficulties in conceiving such as low egg quality, reduced fertility, etc. Even with men, growing age results in low sperm count. So, it is always advisable to conceive when you have time in hand and don’t wait for the last minute.

Have You Been Pregnant Before?

It really does not matter if you have been pregnant before or not. Maybe you had a smooth first pregnancy, but that does not mean the next one will be the same. Pregnancy conditions are different from one point to another.

What Type of Birth Control Have You Been Using?

Depending on the type of birth control you have been on, the pre-pregnancy procedure will vary. You can either be on pills or on tubal ligation, vasectomy, the rhythm method, condoms, IUDs, and more. Once you get off birth control, you can talk to your gynaecologist about your plans to have a baby.

Does Your Current Lifestyle Support a Healthy Pregnancy?

Lifestyle is a major factor affecting the chances of conceiving and pregnancy both. Some habits you will have to kick off, like smoking, drinking taking too much stress etc. Your specialist can ask you about your partner’s lifestyle and habits like drinking alcohol, smoking, using recreational drugs etc. which may affect your pregnancy. Tell him/her freely about this topic as it will be kept confidential.

• A healthy lifestyle will give you the chance to give birth to a healthy baby. So, it is important to maintain or to live a healthy lifestyle during those sensitive days.
• Your health care specialist will discuss the importance of a healthy diet, managing mental stress or some regular free-hand exercises that are essential during the days of your pregnancy.
• If you are facing problems of being overweight or underweight before taking the decision to have a baby, the doctor will suggest you address your weight condition before you get pregnant.
• If you have the habit of smoking or drinking alcohol as well, then do not delay consulting your practitioner about the resources which will help you to quit these habits.

It is important to have preconception checkups along with your partner to deal with those sensitive days of your pregnancy in a smooth manner and to have a healthy baby.

You always need a healthy lifestyle to support a healthy pregnancy. Maybe you are into smoking and drinking. If you are trying to get pregnant, you must get out of such habits and switch to a healthy lifestyle at least three months before trying for a baby.

If you are planning to have a healthy pregnancy and a smooth delivery, there are certain steps you can take. The first step is to assess your health before trying for a baby. The next step is to follow the doctor’s advice and take every care and step to get healthy before trying.

[Read : 15 Habits To Be Kicked Off When Planning A Baby]

FAQ’s

1. What Are the Types of Tests Focused on Before Pregnancy?

Some of the common tests will be a blood test, pap test, pelvic exam, and physical exam. The end goal is to check that you don’t have any nutritional deficiencies or diseases or conditions that can interfere with a successful conception and pregnancy.

2. How do You Prepare Your Body Before Getting Pregnant?

You have to visit a doctor for detailed points to follow for a healthy pregnancy throughout. A healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and exercise will prepare your body for conception and pregnancy. Your doctor may also suggest supplements such as folic acid and antioxidants to help you with the process.

3. What to Know Before Having a Baby?

The points to consider before having a baby are housing, food, healthcare, clothing, childcare, education, and all the other miscellaneous expenses.

Read Also: Top Healthy Pregnancy Tips To Conceive Fast