Pregnancy Health Tips and Hints - A Short Article Packed with
Useful Information
Pregnancy:
Pre-pregnancy health check
Before you can even begin to think about having a baby you have to make sure
that both you and your partner are at your healthiest. After all your body is
going to be the baby’s home for its first 9 months. So making that home
as healthy as possible should be first on your agenda. You should take a year
to prepare for your body and lifestyle to adapt to the changes. The first thing
you should do is make an appointment to see your doctor who may advice you on
a pre-pregnancy health check up whether you have any health problems or not.
Here is a list of the things that you will need to do to help you get your health
into order before trying to conceive. You should also take note o these to help
when having a check up.
Medical history
Your doctor will ask you a series of questions regarding your health and lifestyle.
It is always best to be prepared in advance here are a few things that you should
let him know about.
Any medication that you or your partner are taking. Even some over the counter
drugs can affect the developing baby, so telling your doctor about every medicine
that you are taking is essential. The doctor might want to change some medications
and stop some before trying to conceive.
Any serious or chronic diseases that you may have had – diabetes, low or
high blood pressure, heart disease, epilepsy. There might be need to change
some medications before conceiving.
Genetic problems in your family such as Down's syndrome or cystic
fibrosis.
The type of contraception you are using. Remember with may contraception's
such as the coil you will have to wait at least 2 months after removing it before
you can begin to try to conceive.
Any problems that you have had in previous pregnancies such as, miscarriages,
ectopic pregnancies, premature birth or any complications that you may have
had during labour.
Also let your doctor know if you have had any termination's.
Any menstruation problems that you have had.
Have you had an eating disorder?
Any sexual disease that you have had such as, Chlamydia which can make both
men and women infertile.
Other things that you should inform your GP about are;
Your diet/eating patterns.
Any exercise program that you are currently doing.
Risks with lead at work or home.
Examinations
Your doctor will do a series of tests to make sure that your body is ready for
pregnancy and make sure that you have no diseases that will prevent you from
conceiving or that you don't have any infections that can be passed on to your
baby.
Internal examination
An internal examination may be carried out if you have had problems in the past
with menstruation or a pelvic infection and if you have any infections or conditions
they can be treated now to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy.
Cervical smear test
It is important that you have a cervical smear test every three years. Check
when you last had one and make an appointment if you are due one. Let your doctor
know if you have had any abnormal cervical smear test in the past.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Both you and your partner should have complete tests for STD's also an AIDS
test. If you do have an STD you should let your doctor know immediately to start
treatment to increase your chances of a successful pregnancy. You should always
use a condom while one of you have an STD and should never try to conceive until
you are completely clear of the disease.
Urinalysis
Urinalysis are taken to test for urinary tract infection (UTI). You may be asked
for a urine sample so you can be checked for UTI so that it can be treated immediately.
Avoid trying to conceive altogether if you have an UTI as it is associated with
miscarriage, low-birth weight and premature labour.
Vaccinations
If you have not had rubella, it may be advisable to be vaccinated prior to becoming
pregnant. If you do get vaccinated, you should delay trying to get pregnant
for three months. You should not get vaccinated during pregnancy. If contracted
during pregnancy, rubella can cause birth defects. Avoid eating undercooked
meat or handling cat litter. These are known sources of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic
infection that can seriously affect the foetus.
Blood test
A blood test will be done to test for anaemia and other abnormality in your
blood. Once you have conceived your GP will continue to take blood tests throughout
your pregnancy.
Blood pressure check
Pregnant women with high blood pressure (hypertension) are more likely to develop
pre-eclampsia and have placental problems, so it's important to control high
blood pressure before you conceive.
Genetic testing
If there is a history of genetic problems in either of your families you will
be referred to have genetic testing done. The vast majority of babies are perfectly
healthy — only 2 to 3% are born with a major birth defect.
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