Focus on Preconception Health for a Good Start to Pregnancy
What is preconception health? It’s the state of your health in the months before you get pregnant. Working to get healthier gets your pregnancy off to an excellent start. Our San Antonio OBGYNs provide prepregnancy care appointments to talk about the steps you need to take to get to your best health before you conceive. This comprehensive appointment covers all the factors, health issues and risks that could affect your ability to get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy.
Why your health history matters before you get pregnant
It’s critical to understand your health and family history before you get pregnant. Knowing which conditions, health issues, or risks and chronic conditions you have helps you and our physicians prepare for your pregnancy. Here are some things we discuss at your prepregnancy care visit.
- Medications
- Preexisting medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
- History of prior pregnancies, births or gynecological surgeries
- Your weight, nutrition and exercise routine
- Vitamins and folic acid
- Your environment at work and home
- Your and your partner’s lifestyle choices
- Your mental health
Lifestyle choices affect your preconception health
Certain lifestyle choices can negatively affect your ability to get pregnant and your chances of having a healthy pregnancy. Here are some things to consider.
- Smoking and getting help with quitting
- Avoiding alcohol use while trying to conceive and while pregnant
- Illegal substances, prescription medication misuse or marijuana
- Your exposure to toxic chemicals or substances at work or at home
Discussing diet and exercise is a critical part of prepregnancy care
Being underweight, overweight or obese can affect your ability to get pregnant, and it can affect your health during pregnancy. As part of your preconception health care, our San Antonio OBGYNs can help you learn about proper nutrition and safe, healthy diet choices to help you get to your ideal weight. This begins with a diet that focuses on lean proteins, fruits, whole grains, veggies and dairy.
Exercise is not only a healthy habit to develop for a lifetime, but also a great way to get to and maintain your ideal weight. Talk to our physicians about the best type of exercise you can do before and during pregnancy.
Another vital part of preconception health is taking at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day. When you take folic acid for at least a month before you get pregnant, and for the first trimester of your pregnancy, you help prevent spinal and brain birth defects.
Our San Antonio OBGYNs are here to help you prepare for your pregnancy
Your prepregnancy care appointment not only includes discussing your health history, weight, diet, exercise and lifestyle choices, it also includes a comprehensive physical examination. Our OBGYNs perform a Pap and HIV test, and if needed, test for sexually transmitted infections and hepatitis. We also check your immunity to measles.
Our experienced team of San Antonio OBGYNs encourages you to come see us before you get pregnant for a thorough discussion about your preconception health. Let’s get your pregnancy off to the healthiest start possible. Contact us for an appointment.
