Pregnancy Preparation & Preconception Care
Pregnancy is a miraculous journey and a vital step towards becoming a family. It is also a very special process for transferring knowledge and experiences to future generations. The first step for this process to continue healthily is the pre-pregnancy preparation phase.
Making a regular and good plan is quite important to experience a healthy, comfortable, and beautiful pregnancy period. When planning a pregnancy, it is recommended to make an appointment with an obstetrician for necessary examinations and preliminary preparations at least 3 months before stopping contraception.
Why is Pre-Pregnancy Planning Important?
With preconception counseling, it becomes easier to take precautions against systemic, metabolic, or infectious diseases that may negatively affect the mother and baby, especially during and after pregnancy. Thus, it is possible to avoid many pregnancy complications and certain congenital anomalies.
In this journey, your doctor acting as a guide must first conduct a detailed inquiry into issues such as the mother’s age, habits, systemic diseases, and previous operations.
1. Managing Chronic Diseases & Risks
Possible risks such as Epilepsy, Diabetes, Hypertension, or Goiter (Thyroid) should be detected, and internal medicine controls should be deepened. Habits that could risk the pregnancy process and the baby’s health, such as smoking or alcohol, should be identified, and necessary precautions planned. The expectant mother should be supported and encouraged by her doctor both medically and psychologically.
2. Genetic & Obstetric History
Information regarding previous pregnancies should be questioned in detail; risks with a possibility of recurrence should be determined, and necessary measures taken. Detailed information should be obtained about the family history, especially regarding hereditary diseases and births with anomalies.
3. Infection Screening & Vaccination
Another important factor in pre-pregnancy counseling is the determination of viral or bacterial infections that the mother has had or has not had.
Carriers: Carrier status occurring after having Hepatitis or HPV does not prevent pregnancy. It only requires more careful monitoring during pregnancy.
Active Infections: Having active infections like Toxoplasma or Rubella causes pregnancy to be postponed for a few months.
Vaccines: Vaccinating the mother against infections such as Hepatitis B, Rubella, Varicella (Chickenpox), and Tetanus before pregnancy and conceiving after the specified period passes prevents many risks for both mother and baby.
4. Regulation of Medications
Medications used by the expectant mother before pregnancy are of particular importance.
Roaccutane: Skin medications like Roaccutane (Isotretinoin) should be stopped at least 3 months before pregnancy.
Blood Thinners: Warfarin-type blood thinners should be replaced with drugs that do not complicate pregnancy, such as Low Molecular Weight Heparin.
Psychiatric Meds: It is recommended to stop antidepressants or antiepileptic drugs or switch to Category B drugs that are safer for pregnancy.
Diabetes: Diabetic patients should stop oral medications and start periodic insulin applications after conceiving.
5. Nutrition, Exercise & Folic Acid
Measures such as regulating the expectant mother’s nutrition and determining an appropriate exercise program are important for the mother to start pregnancy at an optimal weight.
After pregnancy occurs, it becomes much harder to acquire new habits due to both mood changes caused by pregnancy hormones and physiological changes. In this period, preparing the body for the new guest is an important duty for everyone around the mother, especially her partner. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor for all kinds of support in this regard.
Folic Acid Supplementation Finally, every pregnant woman should consume 400 micrograms (mcg) of Folic Acid daily, a vitamin that we cannot get enough of no matter how well we eat.
In mothers with a history of Neural Tube Defect births or certain genetic mutations, the daily dose should be determined as higher (e.g., 1200 mcg or 4 mg) under doctor supervision.
The nutrition of Vegetarian mothers should also be specially regulated, and Iron and Vitamin B12 supplements must be recommended for Vegans.