Why Preconception Care?
Introduction
Parenthood is a thrilling and life-altering journey that involves numerous important decisions. One of the most vital choices you can make before embarking on this path is to prioritise preconception care. Preconception care is the proactive process of enhancing your health and wellness before you become pregnant. This step significantly impacts your child's well-being.
Let's explore why preconception care matters for a healthy pregnancy.
Preconception Period
Preconception care is crucial for your baby's early development. It ensures you're in optimal health before pregnancy, vital for the first weeks after conception. This care involves genetic screening, especially with a family history of genetic disorders, informing family planning and birth defect prevention decisions. It also includes maintaining a good mental health, weight, diet, as well as physical activity for both the parents to be.
Preconception care and Pregnancy
Fertility is the cornerstone of your journey to parenthood. Whether you've been dreaming of this moment for years or are just starting to think about having a child. Preconception care significantly impacts birth outcomes. By making necessary lifestyle changes, you can improve your chances of conceiving naturally, without the need for expensive fertility treatments. Preconception care not only readies your body for pregnancy but also lowers the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and other complications. It establishes a strong foundation for a safer and healthier pregnancy journey.
Preconception Checkup
Similar to a regular physical exam, this check up helps evaluate your health and lifestyle's impact on your pregnancy.
A physical examination involves checking your weight, blood pressure, breast examination, and pelvic exam, which can include a Pap test to screen for cervical cancer. Other medical evaluations during a preconception check up include; Blood analysis, Urine examination, Ultrasound imaging, Blood pressure assessment, Weight assessment, Mental health screening, and Abdominal examination.
Following are other parameters that the preconception check up suggest, need to be taken care of:
- Conception Timing and Birth Control: Your menstrual history guides the best conception timing and when to halt birth control methods, a few months before attempting pregnancy or as advised by your healthcare provider.
- Diet, Lifestyle, and Stress management: Your doctor emphasises healthy eating, exercise, quit smoking and alcohol consumption, and stress reduction for a healthy pregnancy. Managing stress is crucial in preconception care as it creates a positive environment for you and your future baby.
- Managing Overall Health: Pre-existing chronic conditions, like diabetes and hypertension, need management before conception to reduce pregnancy risks. Checking immunisation for infections, like rubella, is crucial to prevent birth defects in pregnancy. Additionally, untreated Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) pose fertility and baby health risks. Preconception care includes STI screening and treatment to protect your health.
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Medication, Vaccination, and Supplements: Discuss the medications and vaccinations you may need to ensure they're safe for pregnancy.
Opti-Natal from Dame Health is a preconception multivitamin that goes beyond standard prenatal supplements. It contains L-Methyl Folate for extra protection during preconception, recommended by fertility experts. Begin taking it at least three months before conception. The benefits are, enhances fertility, improves oocyte quality, prevents neural tube defects and birth complications, reduces risks of miscarriages and preterm birth and low birth weight, boosts immunity, provides extra strength to bones and joints, regulates blood pressure, and helps in preventing gestational diabetes. It also nourishes skin, hair, and nervous system. As you prepare for the journey of parenthood, Opti-Natal equips you and your future child with essential care. It is a proactive choice for a healthier pregnancy and a healthy baby.
- Weight Management: Being overweight, as in conditions like PCOS and being underweight can cause irregular menstrual cycles, hindering ovulation. Preconception care helps achieve a healthy weight, and better pregnancy outcomes.
- Boosting Nutritional Health: A well-rounded diet provides essential nutrients for a healthy pregnancy. Preconception care guides you in making better food choices, taking prenatal vitamins, and optimising your nutritional health. Proper nutrition before pregnancy contributes to the development of a strong and healthy baby.
- Enhancing Partners' Health: Both partners play a significant role in the health of your future child. The care during the preconception period includes screening for potential male infertility and the importance of a healthy lifestyle for both partners. Ensuring both partners are in optimal health maximises your chances of conception.
Conclusion
Preconception care provides knowledge for informed choices, realistic goal setting, and adapting your lifestyle to optimise your pregnancy's health. Incorporating preconception care into family planning is a proactive, responsible step, offering numerous benefits for a healthy family journey. Prioritise your health, embrace it, and begin your journey to parenthood with confidence.