Pre-Pregnancy Checkup

Getting pregnant should be a planned event as the woman has to be mentally and physically prepared to deliver a baby. A woman has to be prepared to face the rigours of nine months of pregnancy. The importance of pre-pregnancy checkup cannot be negated. It is very important to rule out any future complications. A pre-pregnancy checkup helps in minimising risks and in taking good care of health. Read on to know the importance of pre pregnancy checkup.Pregnancy is a very crucial condition in a woman’s life. She may decide to get pregnant when her heart and mind is ready, but it is important to ascertain whether her body is also ready for it. Apart from the psychological impact, it is her body that has to bear the rigours of the nine months and also thereafter. Getting pregnant is a major decision and it is advisable that the couple consults with their healthcare provider on whether the woman’s body is prepared to take up the challenge. So a pre-conception becomes necessary. In this articleWhat Happens in this Pre-Pregnancy Checkup?The Segments in Which the Checkup is DoneStatus of Existent DiseasesControl of All Risky BehaviorsChronicIllness, Medications if AnyWhat Happens in this Pre-Pregnancy Checkup? When you first visit your doctor for a pre-pregnancy checkup or consultancy, the doctor reviews the medical history of the woman. Here you are required to furnish the doctor with all the relevant information in an honest manner. Remember that there is nothing to be hesitant of in your body and it is all for the well being of your child apart from yourself. The most important information is related to the genetic history of the woman. Often she may not be aware of the genetic condition of all the members of the family but as far as possible it is better that you collect all the necessary information from near relatives. For instance, if any member of your family is suffering from neural tube defect, the doctor is likely to advise some folic acid even before you decide to conceive. This will protect the baby from the abnormality. Doctors are of the opinion that with good preconception care and attention, other common complications like gestational diabetes, low birth weight of the baby during delivery, etc can be easily avoided. So taking care of the health and staying fit is extremely important when you re planning to give birth to a new life. Infant mortality rate can also be dramatically curtailed when the mother abstains from smoking and alcohol along with caffeine and also ensures that she does not end being a passive smoker, as the dangers remain all the same. It is basically important to educate yourself in staying healthy and making the necessary lifestyle changes that will ensure a successful and enjoyable pregnancy. Besides, every single doubt or apprehensions must be cleared through consultation with the physician. The Segments in Which the Checkup is Done Immunity from diseases – Rubella can cause serious birth defects if the mother happens to contact the virus during early pregnancy. Varicella (chicken pox) is another concern. It is confirmed through a blood test whether the woman is immunized or else vaccination is recommended. Status of Existent Diseases Few diseases can lie dormant or go undiagnosed like, diabetes, syphilis hepatitis and even HIV. So it is better to get the tests done prior to conception. Control of All Risky Behaviors Caffeine, alcohol, drugging to smoking, all are undesirable behaviors that can cause serious potential damage to your health and the life of the unborn child. These should be stopped before conception as once you are pregnant; the central nervous system of the baby begins to form. So you can use this checkup opportunity to seek advice and medication that will help you to abstain from any of these risky behaviors. ChronicIllness, Medications if AnyChronic Illness, Medications if Any Apart from diabetes, other chronic illness may be high or low blood pressure or heart ailments and issues with the thyroid gland. They need to be brought under control before you decide to get pregnant. Similarly, if the woman is on continuous medications which are a part of the treatment of the illnesses or for any other reason like depression, it is important to consult the doctor whether it is proper to proceed with the plan to conceive at that moment.