Why Does Preconception Health Matter?
Preconception health is the health and lifestyle habits of a woman before she becomes pregnant. This includes understanding how certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, and habits such as smoking can affect your health and your baby’s health throughout pregnancy. Learning about these conditions and any health concerns will better prepare you for a healthy pregnancy. Because birth defects occur in approximately 5% of pregnancies, preconception health is important for all women who are thinking about having a baby.
What Affects Preconception Health?
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, preconception health includes analysis of many factors including:
- Immunization history
- Nutrition and diet
- Tobacco, alcohol and substance use
- Medications and radiation exposure
- Undiagnosed or poorly managed chronic conditions
- Risks of occupational and environmental exposure
- Family history of genetic disorders
- Mental health
- Social issues
How Can I Make Sure My Body Is Ready for Pregnancy?
After having a preconception visit with your doctor, it is important to make necessary changes as advised in your meeting to ensure the best possible pregnancy. Some of the most commonly recommended changes include:
- Stop smoking, excessive drinking and the use of other substances. Drinking while trying to conceive may increase the risk of miscarriage, while smoking may cause fertility issues and may delay the ability of women to get pregnant.
- Collect information on your family medical history. Understanding your family medical history is essential when seeking more information about your pregnancy. A history of a genetic disorder may prompt your doctor to suggest genetic carrier screening, a screening test used to analyze the risk that your child may be born with a genetic disorder.
- Take 400 mcg (micrograms) of folic acid every day. Folic acid is an essential B-vitamin that, when found in sufficient amounts one month before and during the entire pregnancy, may help reduce the chance of brain and spinal birth defects.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Women of reproductive age who are overweight, obese, or underweight, are at a higher risk of complications during pregnancy. Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to your health as well as the health of your developing baby.
- Take care of your mental health. Poor mental health before conception has been linked to low birth weight, pregnancy complications, and has been observed as a possible risk factor for non-live birth. If you are experiencing feelings of sadness, anxiousness, worry, or stress that do not go away, talk to a healthcare professional about what you’re feeling and about possible treatment options.
Consult Your Doctor
If you are of reproductive age, sexually active, and trying to start a family, consult your doctor about preconception health care. Each woman is unique. Some women may need more time to prepare their bodies for pregnancy than others. Proper preconception care and good preconception health can improve fertility, your ability to get pregnant, and may reduce or eliminate the risk of health complications from developing in you or your child.
Resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/preconception/planning.html
https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/before-you-get-pregnant/preconception-health.html
http://www.cdc.gov/preconception/careforwomen/exposures.html