Pregnancy is the joyful movement in the life of a couple. To keep that movement joyful, couple should see that health of the mother is optimum to have pregnancy. So knowing your health before planning for pregnancy is pre-conceptional care.
Pre-conceptional care is addressing the health of a woman and her partner prior to pregnancy, is increasingly recognized as an essential element to achieve healthy outcomes for mother and her baby.
Why is it needed?
Proper health assessment, screening for medical illnesses from gynaecologist and starting some supplements during pre-conceptional period will avoid complications during pregnancy, thereby will avoid unnecessary stress during pregnancy.
Pre-conceptional care can improve your chances of getting pregnant, having healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
When to start Pre-conceptional care?
The couple needs to consult a gynaecologist at least 3-6 months before they start trying for pregnancy.
What are the goals of Pre-conceptional care ?
Gaols of Pre-conceptional care are health education and promotion, risk assessment and interventions prior to pregnancy to reduce complications during pregnancy.
What are the different parameters looked in Pre-conceptional care?
- Health assessment- Health assessment of a woman and her partner which includes checking for BMI, knowing their lifestyle and food habits, knowing about addictions and substance abuse and proper health education to both.
- Risk assessment- In this doctor assess the woman for medical illnesses like hypertension, diabetes and start treatment to optimise her health prior to pregnancy.
- Genetic screening- Doctor will rule out chances of having genetic disorder in the baby by proper evaluation like weither marriage is in close relation, any family history of congenital abnormality, developmental delay etc. There are some measures which can be taken to avoid occurrence of genetic disorder in baby or can be detected early.
- Environmental and social factors- During pregnancy a mother needs support and care from her partner and family. Social stress and environment in family can affect pregnancy outcome, so this needs to be addressed prior to pregnancy.
- Medications to be taken and to be avoided- Doctor will check weither a woman is on any medications for any illness and if they are safe in pregnancy or needs to be change over to alternative medicines. There are some supplements like folic acid which are to be started during this period.
- Screening for some infections and immunization- If screening for some infections like Rubella, STIs, hepatitis if done during this period, vaccines can be given against some infections which will avoid those infections occurring during pregnancy and hazards to mother and baby.
What can be achieved by taking care during pre-conceptional period?
Care during preconceptional period will optimise health of the mother prior to pregnancy, minimise complications during pregnancy, thereby avoiding stress during pregnancy.
Actually pre-conceptional care will make your journey of pregnancy stress free, joyful and memorable.
Dr. Anuprita Burande
Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and high risk pregnancy specialist, Yash IVF
