Pre-conception Doctor's Appointment can be beneficial to your efforts to get pregnant!

 

Pre-Conception Appointments with your Family Doctor, General Practitioner, OB GYN.

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Before you Conceive:
There is a certain level of organization a pregnant woman, or a new mom, needs to achieve to help her schedule run smoothly.  For optimal health, a pre-conception appointment with your Care-Provider-of-Choice, is the smartest choice.

What Happens at a Pre-Conception Doctor's Appointment?
So you've decided to conceive.  If you are not already pregnant, a pre-pregnancy doctor's visit can be helpful in optimizing your body's health, and your chances of a healthy, happy, enjoyable pregnancy.

 

Your doctor will discuss any or all of the following topics with you:
• Reproductive history: Your doctor will ask you about previous pregnancies, your menstrual history, what type of contraceptive you've used and any previous sexually transmitted diseases and/or test results.
• Medical history: You will be asked about pre-existing medical conditions or allergies. Any medical condition should be well controlled before you become pregnant.
• Surgical history: Tell your doctor about any surgeries or hospitalizations you have had.
• Current medications: Tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking
• Family health history: Your doctor will ask you questions about your family's health. Tell your doctor if anyone in your family has high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, twins, mental retardation, blindness, deafness, etc.
• Your weight: Your doctor will recommend you try to reach your ideal body weight before becoming pregnant. This means losing weight if you are overweight to reduce your risk of high blood pressure complications during pregnancy; or gaining weight if you are underweight to reduce the risk of delivering a low birth-weight baby.
• Lifestyle factors: Your doctor will ask you questions about you and your partner's habits that could influence your pregnancy, such as smoking, drinking alcohol and using recreational drugs. If you or your partner participate in any of these activities, they will have to be stopped in order for you to have a healthy pregnancy.

• Exercise: Tell your doctor what type of exercise you do. Generally, you may continue your normal exercise routine throughout pregnancy.  Your doctor will advise you if you need to modify or decrease your exercise routine.
• Diet: Your doctor will ask you about your dietary habits, including how much caffeine you intake in a day. For a healthy pregnancy, choose foods high in starch and fiber. Make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals in your daily diet: eat and drink at least 4 servings of dairy products and calcium-rich foods a day, choose at least one source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A and folic acid every day.
• Caffeine consumption: When planning a pregnancy, it is recommended that you do not have more than 300 mg. of caffeine per day.

Use the following scale for caffeine levels:

 

8 oz cup of coffee	150 mg on average
8 oz cup of black tea	80 mg on average
12 oz glass of caffeinated soda/cola	30-60 mg
Remember, chocolate and some medicines contain caffeine.  The amt of caffeine in a chocolate bar is equal to 1/4 cup of coffee.	37 mg is usual

 

 

     

• Prenatal vitamins: Folic acid has been shown to decrease the risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida - a serious condition in which the brain and spinal cord do not form normally in the baby. Before considering a pregnancy, you should begin taking a daily vitamin that contains folic acid. The medical and public health community recommends taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before conception and in early pregnancy. Many pharmacies sell over-the-counter prenatal vitamins that do not require a prescription.

 

Also, your doctor may:
• Perform a physical exam to evaluate your heart, lungs, breasts, thyroid and abdomen. A pelvic exam and Pap smear may also be performed.
• Order lab tests: Some of the conditions screened for include rubella, hepatitis, HIV, syphilis and others as indicated.
• Discuss how to chart menstrual cycles to detect ovulation and determine the time when you are most likely to get pregnant.
• Discuss genetic counseling. Counseling can help couples become aware of their chances of having a child with a birth defect. Genetic counseling is advised for women who will be 35 or older when the baby is due, for couples who have already had a child with a birth defect or for couples with a family history of genetic problems, birth defects or mental retardation.
• If you are not protected against rubella or chicken pox your doctor may recommend the appropriate vaccines and delaying attempts to conceive for at least one month.

This appointment is also the time for you to ask your doctor any questions that you may have. No question is dumb, so feel free to ask about anything that you may be concerned about.
 

 

 

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