The Pre-Pregnancy
Do's and Dont's
Prepregnancy counseling is designed to reduce the risk of adverse health events toward pregnant moms, your baby throughout your pregnancy, as well as your newborn following birth.
A prepregnancy care checkup is the first step in planning a healthy pregnancy.
When you’re planning to start a family, preconception counseling (counseling you receive before you become pregnant) is an invaluable tool used by OB/GYNs to identify genetic risks or lifestyle habits that can affect your pregnancy’s health.
At the office of County Obstetrics and Gynecology, our specialists provides comprehensive preconception counseling to help you have a smooth pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Preconception counseling is the care and patient education you receive from your OB/GYN before conceiving. Many women and couples seek preconception counseling when they’re planning to start a family.
While you can’t always plan when you’re going to conceive, preconception counseling can help ensure that you’re as healthy as possible when you do. This is especially important if you’ve had high-risk pregnancies in the past or pre-existing conditions that could affect your pregnancy’s health.
Why is preconception counseling important?
Many women don’t realize they’re pregnant until 6-8 weeks into their pregnancy. During this time, your fetus experiences many developmental changes, including the formation of some organs.
By identifying potential risks before you conceive, you can prevent some pregnancy complications, including:
- Gestational diabetes (high blood sugar during pregnancy)
- Preterm labor and delivery
- Gestational hypertension (high blood pressure during pregnancy)
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Cervical incompetence
Preconception counseling provides you with the information you need to have a healthy, worry-free pregnancy.
Do I need preconception counseling?
Preconception counseling is helpful for any type of pregnancy. If you’re planning to conceive soon, talk to our office about scheduling a comprehensive evaluation to identify possible risks before you start trying for a baby.
During your preconception counseling visits, one of our specialists will review your medical history and asks you questions regarding your health and lifestyle.
During this visit, one of our providers will review your:
- Past medical history
- Family History
- Medications
- Past pregnancies
Your pre pregnancy checklist:
- Lifestyle
- Vaccination
- Genetic testing
- Work or Home environmental issues
Working with you prepregnancy provides an excellent opportunity to educate you about a healthy lifestyle and to identify and address risk factors that may affect the health of a pregnancy.
Call the office of County Obstetrics & Gynecology to schedule a consultation.
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Healthy Living
Nutrition
Vitamins
Vaccination
Genetic Carrier Status
