What is Preconception Planning?
A preconception counselling appointment is a meeting with your healthcare professional to discuss your plans for a future pregnancy. Your family history, risk factors, medical issues, and way of life are all taken into consideration. This consultation is an important part of a healthy and well-planned pregnancy.
What is preconception counselling?
A safe, healthy, and happy pregnancy begins even before you receive a positive pregnancy test result. Preparing for pregnancy begins with taking care of your health before you get pregnant. Preconception counselling is an appointment with your healthcare practitioner during which you will discuss several elements of pregnancy and make plans for a healthy pregnancy.
When should I make an appointment for preconception counselling?
This consultation should take place at least three months before you begin attempting to conceive.
It is important to consult your health care provider and obtain pregnancy counselling if you wish to have a child. This is especially relevant in the following circumstances:
1. Maternal age is above 35 years.
2. Father's age is above 50.
3. A consanguineous marriage is one in which two blood relations marry.
4. If your child was born with a congenital defect
The doctor will take your medical history and check for diabetes, hypertension, and other diseases during prenatal counselling. She will calculate your BMI and advise you on how to lose weight before becoming pregnant. Please inform your doctor if you are taking any medications. “I have seen women hiding the history of seizure disorders from their doctor with disastrous consequences,” said Dr. Rehana Kousar.
What types of tests will my partner and I go through during preconception counselling?
If you have a family history of certain genetic problems, your doctor may recommend that both you and your partner undergo genetic counselling before conceiving. This method will offer your healthcare team a lot of information that will be useful throughout your pregnancy. Genetic counselling can also identify some risk factors that your doctor can discuss and plan for with you. You might also be checked for Tay-Sachs disease or sickle trait/sickle cell disease. These conditions can be passed down across generations.
What happens after my preconception counselling appointment?
Following your appointment, your caregiver may make various recommendations. These could include a combination of lifestyle changes and healthcare recommendations, such as:
What other lifestyle changes should I keep in mind as I prepare for pregnancy?
Women can continue to exercise while pregnant. Intermittent activity is favored over regular exercise (at least three times per week) (altering between periods of being active and inactive). Pregnant women should not exercise until they are exhausted and should stop when they are tired. It's also important to keep yourself hydrated. A well-balanced diet rich in nutritious foods is also essential. For your baby to grow and develop properly, you must eat well during pregnancy. You'll need to consume approximately 300 more calories every day during your pregnancy than you did before. Establishing a nutritious diet before becoming pregnant will help you maintain healthy eating habits throughout your pregnancy.
What medications need to be taken as I prepare to get pregnant?
Medications for diabetes, hypertension, seizures, and thyroid illness must be customized to your specific needs when you are pregnant. Some medicines are harmful to the fetus and must be replaced. It's also critical to keep these conditions under control before getting pregnant.
Supplementing with folic acid is also recommended by your doctor.
To rule out fetal anomalies, some women require testing such as maternal alpha-fetoprotein, triple test, and fetal karyotyping.
In conclusion, you and your partner might have decided that it is time to add a member to your small family. However, in addition to being emotionally prepared, you must also be physically prepared to give birth to a child. As a result, you must plan a preconception meeting with your health care expert to ensure a safe pregnancy. Lastly, a preconception appointment is especially important when you plan to have a baby in your 30s or 40s or are suffering from chronic health conditions.
SOURCE:
https://www.risingkashmir.com/Preconception-counselling-96853
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