|
Planning for a baby
Planning for a baby is more than getting a crib and car seat - it is an thinking through an important step. Your body needs to be equally prepared. If you've decided the time is right to get pregnant, you've likely already begun emotionally preparing yourself for a lifelong commitment to your child. But before you try to conceive, take time to ensure that your body is equally well prepared for the task ahead. The preconception visit The preconception visit is as important as a first step. Begin your preparations for pregnancy by scheduling a preconception appointment with your doctor, your nurse-midwife or another medical doctor. This allows him or her to assess your overall health and helps you map out lifestyle changes that may improve your chances for a healthy pregnancy and baby. This visit also gives you and your partner a chance to ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have. Use this chance to get to know all you've been asking yourself lately. A preconception checkup typically includes a complete physical examination. You have blood tests to check your immunity to infections - such as chickenpox (varicella) and German measles (rubella) - that can cause serious birth defects or illness in your baby. If you aren't immune to these infections, your doctor may vaccinate you. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommends that after being vaccinated you wait at least one month before trying to get pregnant. Also be prepared to talk with your doctor about: Current and past health issues. If you have an ongoing medical condition such as diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure, it's best to have it under control before you get pregnant. This reduces the risks for both you and your baby. You and your doctor can determine what changes, if any, are necessary to bring your condition under control before you attempt to become pregnant. Even if you've had no problem maintaining your health for some time, you may require special care during pregnancy. A growing baby can put new demands on your body. Medications. Some prescription, over-the-counter and herbal medications can harm a growing baby. Tell your doctor about all the medications, herbs or supplements you're taking. He or she may recommend you stop taking certain medications or change doses before you become pregnant. Family history. Some health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and seizure disorders, tend to run in families. If a close relative has a certain condition, you or your baby could be at greater risk of having it. To assess your risk, your doctor asks you and your partner a number of questions about your family medical history. Things to pay attention at Certain medical conditions are genetic disorders, meaning that they're passed from parent to child through DNA. Examples include sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis and Duchene muscular dystrophy. Even if you don't have the disorder yourself, you may carry the defect in your genes and can pass it along to your baby. So checking carefully before trying to conceive means to take care about your future child and all the health problems he might inherit. You should remember that your ethnicity or family history can affect the risk of passing on a genetic disorder. If it's a concern, your doctor may refer you to a genetic counselor - a health care professional trained to assess the risk of inherited disorders. For some conditions, genetic screening can provide important information about the risk of disease in a child. If you or your partner is of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, for example, you may benefit from screening for Tay-Sachs, Canavan and Gaucher diseases. If you're African-American, consider screening for sickle cell anemia. If you're of Asian descent, you may want to think about screening for alpha-thalassemia. If you're of European descent, consider screening for cystic fibrosis. Consider your age and previous pregnancies If you're age 35 or older, you're at increased risk of fertility problems, miscarriage and certain chromosomal disorders in your child, such as Down syndrome. Some pregnancy-related problems, such as high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, also occur more frequently among mothers who are age 35 and older. Discuss these risks with your doctor and develop a plan for avoiding complications. Your doctor may ask you about previous pregnancies, including any problems you might have had. This discussion is especially important if a prior pregnancy was complicated by high blood pressure or diabetes or if you had premature labor, if you had a preterm birth or if your baby was born with a birth defect. In some cases, your doctor can help you take preventive steps that increase the likelihood that future pregnancies will be healthy. At the very least, the discussion allows you to air any of your existing concerns or fears. Don't be afraid to ask and get all the answers you need before becoming a happy parent.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
