“Would you like to become pregnant in the next year?”
The goal of pre-pregnancy care is to optimize your health, address any modifiable risk factors and provide education about a healthy pregnancy.
Why is this important? You may be able to reduce risks to you and your baby.
Many chronic medical conditions – diabetes, hypertension, psychiatric illness, and thyroid disease – can impact pregnancy outcomes and should be optimally managed before pregnancy.
Pregnancy complications may be reduced by appropriate identification and mitigation of risk factors, while genetic screening may allow a couple to make informed decisions regarding family planning.
What can you expect to be covered at a preconception visit?
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Family planning and pregnancy spacing
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Immunity and immunization status
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Risk factors for sexually transmitted infections
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Substance use, including alcohol, tobacco and recreational and illicit drugs
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Exposure to violence and intimate partner violence
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Medical, surgical and psychiatric history
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Current medications (prescription and non prescriptions)
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Family history (both mother and father)
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Nutrition
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Body mass index (BMI)
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Prepregnancy folic acid supplementation to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs)
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Teratogens (an agent that causes fetal abnormality following exposure in pregnancy): environmental and occupational exposures
Schedule your visit if you are considering pregnancy and want to optimize your health and the health of your baby.
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