Preparing for pregnancy is a journey full of expectations, and in this journey, early health planning is particularly important. A pre-conception consultation (also called a pre-pregnancy consultation) is an in-depth discussion with a healthcare professional for a person interested in a future pregnancy. This not only helps optimize health, but also reduces potential complications during pregnancy and improves the environment for fetal growth and development.
Health experts recommend that any woman who wants to get pregnant should go to a medical institution for pre-pregnancy examination and consultation within 3 to 6 months before actually trying to get pregnant.
This period of time can help women better prepare for successful conception and pregnancy and reduce controllable health risks. Recommended prenatal health checks include evaluation for potential pregnancy complications and lifestyle modifications such as increasing folic acid intake to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol intake.
Despite this, many women still do not appreciate the importance of pre-pregnancy counseling. According to statistics, 38% of pregnancies are unintended, leading many experts to call for all women who are able to become pregnant to receive this counseling, whether they planned it or not. As for the evaluation, it usually includes a detailed questionnaire to understand the woman's medical and family history.
A pre-pregnancy health checkup is like a health checkup for a baby, designed to detect potential health problems to ensure the health of the mother and fetus.
The questionnaire covers many aspects of body systems, not just the reproductive system, but also information about lifestyle and family history. It is usually filled out before seeing a doctor to collect necessary health information.
Blood testBlood tests may include a complete blood count (CBC), which can help reveal anemia or infection, both of which could affect a woman's ability to become pregnant and the health of her fetus.
UrinalysisA urinalysis can show whether there is protein or blood in the urine, which may indicate an infection or kidney problem that could affect a healthy pregnancy.
Once a woman's underlying health condition is identified, her healthcare professional will conduct an ongoing evaluation and recommend adjustments to any medications that may affect pregnancy. Additionally, certain diseases such as diabetes receive special attention.
Women also play a vital role in this process. Changing their lifestyle, quitting smoking and drinking, increasing exercise and improving their mental health are all things they can control and improve. Many doctors also recommend that women take prenatal vitamins before they become pregnant to improve their overall health.
In the United States, pre-pregnancy counseling recommendations include: height and weight to calculate BMI, blood pressure, medical history, abdominal and pelvic examination, rubella and varicella screening, and gonorrhea and chlamydia screening for high-risk groups.
Through comprehensive pre-pregnancy counseling and genetic screening, we can prepare for a healthy pregnancy and minimize pregnancy risks.
Therefore, in order to increase the success rate of pregnancy and ensure the health of mother and baby, early health preparation cannot be ignored. Are you ready to start this wonderful journey and give your future baby a healthier start?