Thyroid, Breast, Endocrine & Cancer Surgeon
Obstetrician, Gynecologist & Laparoscopic Surgeon
Pre pregnancy care involves informed choice, which helps you to understand health issues that may affect conception and pregnancy. Couple is encouraged to prepare actively for pregnancy, and be as healthy as possible.
It includes identifying couples who are at increased risk of having babies with a genetic malformation and provide them with sufficient knowledge to make informed decisions.
Taking a folic acid supplement is crucial. By taking 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid a day for at least one month before you conceive helps prevent some other birth defects.
Aim for a healthy weight. You may have an easier time conceiving if you're at a healthy weight. Having a low or high body mass index (BMI) makes it harder for some women to become pregnant.
Getting to a healthier weight now can also help you get your pregnancy off on the right foot. Women with a high BMI are more likely to have pregnancy or delivery complications, while women who start with a low BMI and fail to gain enough weight are more likely to deliver underweight babies.
You should create and follow an exercise program that reward you with a healthy body that's fit for pregnancy. A healthy exercise program includes 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise, such as walking or cycling and weight training, on most days of the week.
To increase flexibility, try stretching or yoga, and you'll have a well-rounded fitness program. Once you're pregnant, it's okay – even recommended – to continue exercising. (Unless you have pregnancy complications and we ask you to avoid that)
Reduce environmental risks. Some jobs can be hazardous to you and your unborn child, for example if you're routinely exposed to chemicals or radiation, you'll need to make some changes before you conceive. You may not be able to entirely eliminate all environmental dangers, but you can do your best to keep as many of them as possible out of your life now.
Even if you have had a rubella immunisation, or have had rubella, there is still a small chance that your body has not made enough antibodies against the rubella virus to protect you. The only way to check whether the immunisation has worked is to have a blood test. This checks for rubella antibodies. Because the congenital rubella syndrome is so important to avoid, if you are thinking about becoming pregnant for the first time, you should have a blood test to check that you are protected.
This blood test may be offered to younger women in routine health checks. In most women the test is positive, which means that you are protected from rubella.
⇒ If your test is negative (no antibodies), you are at risk if you come into contact with rubella. You should keep away from people who might have rubella. Once your baby is born, you should then have a rubella immunisation to protect against rubella in future pregnancies.
The MMR vaccine is safe to have if you are breast-feeding.
