By the time you miss your period and discover you’re pregnant, the embryo,
now two weeks old or more, is already undergoing dramatic changes. Believe
it or not, when the embryo is only two to three weeks old, it has already
developed the beginnings of its heart and brain. Because your general health
and nutrition can influence the growth of those organs, having your body
ready for pregnancy before you conceive really pays off. Schedule what’s
called a preconceptional visit with your practitioner to be sure your body is
tuned up and ready to go.
now two weeks old or more, is already undergoing dramatic changes. Believe
it or not, when the embryo is only two to three weeks old, it has already
developed the beginnings of its heart and brain. Because your general health
and nutrition can influence the growth of those organs, having your body
ready for pregnancy before you conceive really pays off. Schedule what’s
called a preconceptional visit with your practitioner to be sure your body is
tuned up and ready to go.
Sometimes you can schedule this visit during a routine gynecological
appointment: When you go in for your annual PAP test, mention that you’re
thinking about having a baby, and your practitioner will take you through the
preliminaries. If you aren’t due for your annual exam for several more months
and you’re ready to begin trying to get pregnant now, go ahead and schedule
a preconceptional visit with your practitioner, and bring along the father-tobe,
if at all possible, so both of you can provide health histories — and know
what to expect from this adventure.
appointment: When you go in for your annual PAP test, mention that you’re
thinking about having a baby, and your practitioner will take you through the
preliminaries. If you aren’t due for your annual exam for several more months
and you’re ready to begin trying to get pregnant now, go ahead and schedule
a preconceptional visit with your practitioner, and bring along the father-tobe,
if at all possible, so both of you can provide health histories — and know
what to expect from this adventure.
Taking a look at your history
The preconceptional visit is a chance for your practitioner to identify areas
of concern so she can keep you and your baby healthy — even before you get
pregnant. A multitude of factors come into play, and the practitioner is likely
to ask you about the following:
of concern so she can keep you and your baby healthy — even before you get
pregnant. A multitude of factors come into play, and the practitioner is likely
to ask you about the following:
Previous pregnancies and gynecologic history: Information about previous
pregnancies can help your practitioner decide how best to manage
your future pregnancies. You’ll be asked to describe any prior pregnancies,
any miscarriages or premature births, any multiple births — in
short, any situations that can happen again. Knowing whether you had
problems in the past, like preterm labor or high blood pressure, is helpful
for the practitioner. Your gynecologic history is equally important
because information like prior surgery on your uterus or cervix or a
history of irregular periods also may influence your pregnancy.
pregnancies can help your practitioner decide how best to manage
your future pregnancies. You’ll be asked to describe any prior pregnancies,
any miscarriages or premature births, any multiple births — in
short, any situations that can happen again. Knowing whether you had
problems in the past, like preterm labor or high blood pressure, is helpful
for the practitioner. Your gynecologic history is equally important
because information like prior surgery on your uterus or cervix or a
history of irregular periods also may influence your pregnancy.
Your family history: Reviewing your family’s medical history alerts your
practitioner to conditions that may complicate your pregnancy or be
passed on to the developing baby. You want to discuss your family history
because you can take steps before you conceive to decrease the
chance that certain disorders, such as having a family history of neural
tube defects (spina bifida, for example), will affect your pregnancy (see
the sidebar “Why the sudden hype on folic acid?” later in this chapter).
In Chapter 8, we discuss in more detail different genetic conditions and
ways of testing for them.
practitioner to conditions that may complicate your pregnancy or be
passed on to the developing baby. You want to discuss your family history
because you can take steps before you conceive to decrease the
chance that certain disorders, such as having a family history of neural
tube defects (spina bifida, for example), will affect your pregnancy (see
the sidebar “Why the sudden hype on folic acid?” later in this chapter).
In Chapter 8, we discuss in more detail different genetic conditions and
ways of testing for them.
For those of you considering the use of donor eggs or sperm, keep in
mind that the donor’s genetic history is just as important as any other
biological parent’s. Find out as much as you can.
mind that the donor’s genetic history is just as important as any other
biological parent’s. Find out as much as you can.
about your parents’ and grandparents’ ancestry — not because
your practitioner is nosy, but because some inheritable problems are
concentrated in certain populations. Again, the advantage of finding out
about these problems before you get pregnant is that if you and your
partner are at risk for one of these problems, you have more time to
become informed and to check out all your options
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