In India, almost all pregnancies are unintended or unplanned and most women are already two weeks pregnant before they are aware of their pregnancy. The first few weeks of pregnancy are the most vital to the development of the baby. Fortunately, most children are born healthy, but pre-conceptional care or proper planning for pregnancy helps to decrease the risk of health problems during pregnancy and in baby.
Preconception care means optimizing your and your husband’s physical and mental health before conceiving a baby.
Pre-conceptional care may help you to:
• conceive more easily
• have a healthier pregnancy
• avoid or minimize pregnancy complications
• give birth to a healthier baby
• recover more quickly and easily after giving birth
• minimize your child's risk of future adult health problems.
If you are planning a pregnancy, you should start changing habits, avoid any harmful activities and consult your doctor now rather than waiting until you are pregnant. A four to six months preconception care plan is recommended for healthy pregnancy. Because it takes at least three months for sperm cells to be developed enough for ejaculation, and it takes about four months for immature eggs to mature enough to be released during ovulation. So, schedule a preconception appointment with your doctor as soon as you begin thinking about pregnancy. The more you can inform your doctor before you conceive about yours and your husband’s medical and family history, previous pregnancies, and medications you take, the better advice he/she can give you to help you have a healthy pregnancy. Your doctor will take a history and examine you. There are medical conditions that you may not be aware of that can affect your pregnancy. Get a preconception check-up even if you have already had a baby. Your health may have changed since you were last pregnant.
If you take medicines for any reason tell your doctor that you are planning to get pregnant as some drugs may affect the developing baby. Do not stop or start any medication yourself. Gum disease and oral infections can increase your risk for premature birth and low-birth weight baby. Keep your regular dental check-ups before and during pregnancy. Infections such as chickenpox (varicella), German measles (rubella) and hepatitis B can be dangerous for an unborn baby. If you are not immune, your doctor will vaccinate you.
A preconception check-up is especially advised, if you have an existing medical problem that could pose risks to you and/or your baby during pregnancy such as:
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure
- Renal disorder
- Thyroid Disorders
- Sexually transmitted disease eg. HIV, Hepatitis B & C etc
- Blood Disorders such as Hemoglobinopathy or Hyperphenylalaninemia
- Auto-immune disorders
- Depression
- Epilepsy
- Bad obstetric history (complications in previous pregnancy)
You should talk to your doctor about your fertility if:
- You are younger than 35 and have not been able to conceive after one year of frequent sex without birth control.
- You are age 35 or older and have not been able to conceive after six months of frequent sex without birth control.
- You believe you or your husband might have fertility problems in the future.
- You or your husband has a problem with sexual function or libido.
Dr Dipti Agrawal
Last update: 18/04/2020
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