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Before You Become Pregnant
What Every
Woman Needs to Know about Preconception Care
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Women need to get healthier before
they become pregnant. That’s the message of preconception care,
which helps ensure that moms have the best chance possible of
having a healthy child. Seeing a doctor after you’re pregnant is
an important part of a healthy pregnancy. But many women don’t
have their first prenatal care visit until they’re several weeks
along.
“Getting pregnant and then
seeing your doctor is like putting the cart before the horse,”
says Wendy Cutler, M.D.,
an
obstetrician and gynecologist with The Austin Diagnostic
Clinic. “Birth defects and complications can arise very early in
a pregnancy. If a woman’s health is managed before she
conceives, health problems that can affect her and her baby can
be reduced or prevented altogether.”
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Whether you’re trying to get
pregnant for the first time or if you want to get pregnant
again, following these tips can help make sure you are in
optimal health no matter when you conceive.
Take folic acid. Take 400 mcg of folic acid a day for at least
three months before trying to get pregnant. “Folic acid is a B
vitamin that reduces a baby’s risk of developing serious brain
and spinal cord birth defects such as spina bifida,” explains
Dr. Cutler. “These birth defects usually develop in the first
month of pregnancy, a time when a woman may not even be aware
she’s pregnant.”
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. There is no question that
smoking and drinking while you’re pregnant can harm your baby.
Research shows that smoking is associated with preterm births
and low birth weights, and alcohol can cause fetal alcohol
syndrome and other birth defects. Don’t wait until you’re
pregnant to cut out these potentially harmful habits, advises
Dr. Cutler.
“Only 20 percent of women can successfully quit smoking while
they’re pregnant. Talk to your doctor about a smoking cessation
plan before you even begin to consider having a baby,” says Dr.
Cutler. “The same goes with alcohol. If you are a frequent
drinker, you need to change your habits before you get pregnant,
not after. And if you drink before you know you’re pregnant, you
can do serious harm to your child.”
Control your conditions. Many health conditions can impact the
health of an unborn child. Obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism,
HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, high blood pressure, blood disorders and
eating disorders are just a few of the chronic diseases that can
increase your risk for complications.
“If you have a chronic condition, work with your doctor to
ensure it is managed properly before you begin trying to
conceive,” says Cutler. “In addition, visiting your doctor prior
to planning a pregnancy can help detect any health conditions
you have that you might not be aware of.”
Consider your medications. Talk to your doctor about which
medications you take and their potential effects on an unborn
child. Some medicines, such as Accutane, which is used to manage
acne, can be harmful and should be stopped before conception
occurs. Other drugs, such as epilepsy medicine and blood
thinners, can also affect a fetus.
“If you’re taking medicine or herbal supplements that aren’t
essential to your health, it’s best to stop taking them,” says
Dr. Cutler. “For medicines that you must take, your doctor can
help explain how they may affect your pregnancy and discuss any
possible alternatives.”
Avoid exposure to toxic substances. Certain substances at work
and home should be avoided. Eliminate exposure to pesticides and
fertilizers. If your partner uses these substances, avoid
contact with his clothes and have them washed separately. If you
have an older home, make sure it is free of lead-based paint.
Cat and rodent feces should also be avoided.
Cutler recommends that women follow these tips a minimum of
three months before trying to get pregnant. But preconception
health is important to all women, Dr. Cutler says. “More than
half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned,” she
says. “That’s why preconception health is important for any
woman who is sexually active and physically able to have
children.”
Preconception care can help reduce the risk for birth defects,
low birth weight, preterm delivery and infant death, and improve
the overall health of a woman. “Before you think about getting
pregnant, think about your health,” says Dr. Cutler. “Talking to
your doctor about preconception care is the first step to having
a healthy baby.”
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Wendy Cutler, M.D., is a
board certified obstetrician and gynecologist with The Austin
Diagnostic Clinic, a multi-specialty clinic with more than 120
physicians representing 24 medical specialties at six locations
throughout Austin and Central Texas. Visit www.adclinic.com or
call 512-901-1111.
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