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Review
this Preconceptional Checklist to get off to a healthy start
as you plan your pregnancy. Use this checklist to discuss
with your physician or midwife any special medical needs or
concerns that you may have. We want to work with you from
start to finish to create healthy beginnings!
Preconceptual
Visit - A preconceptual visit allows you discuss with
your physician issues important to planning a healthy pregnancy.
Family
History - Certain conditions occur more commonly in
families including diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure),
epilepsy (seizures), mental retardation, and twins. Other
disorders can be inherited and are called genetic disorders.
Genetic disorders include thalassemia, Tay-Sachs disease,
sickle cell disease, hemophilia, muscular dystrophy, cystic
fibrosis, Huntington chorea, and Fragile X syndrome. Some
genetic disorders can be detected before you are pregnant.
Medical
History - Some medical conditions require special
care during pregnancy (examples: diabetes, epilepsy, high
blood pressure).
Past
Pregnancies - A review of you obstetric history is
a crucial part of preconceptual care. Some problems will recur,
but most do not. Previous problems can alert your physician
that you may need special attention during a future pregnancy.
Medications
- Some medications can affect the developing fetus and should
be avoided when pregnant. If you are taking certain medications,
you may need to be changed to others before you attempt to
get pregnant.
Life
Style
Diet
- A healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining
your health. It is even more important when you are pregnant.
Your doctor can provide you with specific information. It
is recommended that you start taking a prenatal vitamin before
you get pregnant. Prenatal vitamins contain folic acid (0.4-1.0
mg) which can reduce the risk of neural tube defects (spina
bifida).
Special
Needs - Women who are vegetarian, anemic before pregnancy,
or have other conditions which affect their nutrition should
contact their doctors for special dietary information. Women
with a previous pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect
should take10 times more folic acid than the routine recommended
dose. A dose of 4 mg every day as a separate supplement is
given starting one month before conception and during the
first 3 months of pregnancy.
Weight
- Maintenance of proper weight is important for good health.
Pregnancy can be complicated by diabetes and high blood pressure
in women who are overweight. Pregnancy in underweight women
can lead to low-birth weight infants.
Exercise
- Ideally, it is important to be in shape and follow a regular
exercise routine before you become pregnant. To achieve cardiovascular
fitness, you need to exercise at least three times a week.
Substance
Use - Tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs can cause
harm to both you and a developing fetus. For your own health
and the health of your baby, the best time to quit or at least
cut down is before you get pregnant. It is difficult to quit
a habit. Contact your doctor for suggestions and resource
referrals.
Environment
- Some substances used in the work place can affect pregnancy.
If you are planning on becoming pregnant, it's important to
look closely at your work environment. Radiation is used in
some jobs. Exposure to high levels of radiation, can affect
pregnancy. The amount of radiation in a chest x-ray will not
affect fertility or pregnancy.
Infections
- Infections can be harmful to both the mother and the fetus.
Some infections can cause serious birth defects or illness
in the fetus. Some infections can be prevented by vaccination
(examples: measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and tetanus). Sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) can also affect pregnancy. If
you suspect that you may have a STD, see your doctor to be
tested and treated.
Later Childbearing - Most women in their mid-thirties
and older have healthy pregnancies. Some special questions
arise for women regarding pregnancy. A woman's fertility
gradually declines in the mid-thirties and beyond. As women
get older, certain medical conditions and obstetric problems
occur more often. Another concern for older women is the
increased risk of birth defects. Women over the age of 35
are usually offered genetic testing. It's important to be
aware of these risks and discuss pregnancy plans with your
Questions?
Feel free to contact us.
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