If you are planning to become pregnant, we suggest you follow certain steps to facilitate the arrival of pregnancy, which can help the risks to you and the baby are reduced. Enjoy good health before making the decision to become pregnant is almost as important as keeping your body healthy during pregnancy.
The first weeks are crucial to a child's development. However, many women don't realize they are pregnant until several weeks after conception. Plan ahead and taking care of yourself before getting pregnant is the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby.
Pre-pregnancy exam: what it includes and why it matters
One of the most important steps in preparing for a healthy pregnancy is a pre-pregnancy exam that your doctor will perform before you become pregnant. This exam may include all or part of the following:
- Family medical history - evaluation of the maternal and paternal medical history to determine if any family member suffered from any medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and / or mental retardation.
- Genetic examination - evaluation of any possible genetic disorder, since several genetic disorders can be inherited, for example sickle cell anemia (a serious disorder that mainly affects African-Americans) or Tay-sachs (Disintegration disorder of the nerves marked by progressive mental and physical retardation, seen mainly in people of Jewish origin from Eastern Europe). Some genetic disorders can be detected by blood tests before pregnancy.
- Personal medical history: evaluation of the woman's personal medical history to detect if any of the following exist:
- Medical conditions that require special care during pregnancy, such as epilepsy, diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia, and / or allergies.
- Previous surgeries.
- Previous pregnancies.
- Vaccination - evaluation of vaccinations / inoculations received to assess immunity to rubella, in particular, since contracting this disease during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or birth defects in the fetus. If the woman is not immunized against this disease, the corresponding vaccine can be applied at least three months before conception.
- Infection control - to determine if the woman suffers from sexually transmitted infections or urinary tract infections (or other infections) that could be harmful to the fetus and the mother.
In addition, during this visit it is advisable to review other aspects that optimize conception: health insurance coverage during pregnancy, chronic medication review (some drugs require adjustment or substitution), assessment of oral health (periodontal diseases are associated with premature birth), expanded vaccination status (chickenpox, hepatitis B, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis) and screened of HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis according to risk factors. A brief check-up mental health and emotional support allows anticipating support needs during pregnancy.
Pregnancy spacing and timing
Choosing when to seek pregnancy is part of the Family planningIf you do not want to get pregnant yet, it is advisable to define a adequate contraceptive method to your situation. If you have decided to look for it, the time It also influences maternal and neonatal health.
Un short interval (starting a pregnancy within six months of a live birth) is associated with a higher probability of premature birth, low birth weight and certain congenital disorders, plus maternal anemia. Although causality is not always clear, the body may not have replenished its reserves of folate and iron after pregnancy and breastfeeding.
When it happens too much time between pregnancies, some risks also increase, such as preeclampsia or more complicated deliveryOne hypothesis proposes that the beneficial effects of previous pregnancy on the uterus and placenta may be attenuated over the years.
For most people, it is usually recommended to wait between 18 and 24 months after a live birth and less than five years to reduce risks. However, the ideal time may vary depending on the advanced maternal age, background of premature birth o preeclampsia, prior caesarean section or if recourse was made to Assisted reproduction. After a spontaneous abortion Early, if you're healthy and feel ready, it's not always necessary to wait long; ask for a personalized recommendation.
Habits and prevention: steps that make a difference
key steps that can help reduce the risk of complications and contribute to preparing for a healthy pregnancy and delivery include the following:
- Give up smoking: If you are a smoker, stop smoking now. Research has shown that babies whose mothers are smokers tend to weigh less at birth. Additionally, exposure to smoke exhaled by a smoker can have adverse effects on the fetus.
- Proper diet: Eating a balanced diet before becoming pregnant and during pregnancy is not only good for the mother's overall health, but is also essential for nourishing the fetus.
- Pthat adequate and exercise: It is important to exercise regularly and maintain an appropriate weight before becoming pregnant and during pregnancy. Women who are overweight can suffer from medical problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Women who are underweight can have low-birth-weight babies.
- Medical control (from pre-existing conditions): Manage any current or pre-existing medical problems, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
- Prevention of birth defects: Take 400 micrograms (0,4 mg) of folic acid per day, a nutrient found in some leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, citrus fruits, fortified breakfast cereals, and some vitamin supplements. Folic acid can help reduce the risk of birth defects in the brain and spinal cord (also called neural tube defects).
- Avoid alcohol and drug use during pregnancyAlso, be sure to tell your doctor about any medications (prescription or over-the-counter) you are taking (all can have adverse effects on the developing fetus).
- Exposure to harmful substances: Pregnant women should avoid exposure to toxic and chemical substances (for example, lead and pesticides) and radiation (x-rays). Exposure to high levels of certain types of radiation and certain toxic chemicals can adversely affect the fetus.
- Infection control: Pregnant women should avoid eating undercooked meat and raw eggs. In addition, they should avoid any contact and exposure to cat feces and cat litter boxes, as they may contain the toxoplasma gondii parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. Other sources of infection include insects (eg, flies) that have been in contact with cat feces, and therefore should be avoided during pregnancy. Toxoplasmosis can lead to serious illness or death of the fetus. Pregnant women have the ability to reduce the risk of infection by avoiding all potential sources of infection. Through a blood test carried out before or during pregnancy, it is possible to determine if a woman was exposed to the parasite gondii.
- Daily intake of vitamins: Start taking a prenatal vitamin every day, prescribed by your doctor, to make sure your body gets all the nutrients and vitamins it needs to nourish a healthy baby.
- Domestic violence: Women who are abused before becoming pregnant may be at risk of increased abuse during pregnancy. Your doctor can help you find community, social, and legal resources for dealing with domestic violence.
Beyond the above, it is worth considering other adjustments with proven impact: reduce caffeine (ideally below 200 mg/day), avoid second and third hand smoke (residues on clothing and furniture), and check levels of iron and vitamin D if there is a history of deficit. If you work exposed to chemicals or radiation, requests an assessment of occupational risks before conception.
Comprehensive family planning: contraception, fertility and preservation
Family planning encompasses practices that help control playback: deciding when to have children, how many, and at what intervals. Includes sex education, prevention, and treatment sexually transmitted infections, preconception counseling and infertility management.
If you do not want pregnancy yet, there are multiple options contraceptive methods:
- Natural methods
- Identification of fertile days and avoidance of intercourse with internal ejaculation during that period. Examples: rhythm/calendar, cervical mucus (Billings), basal temperature.
- Barrier methods
- They prevent egg-sperm contact; some protect against STIs. Examples: condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, vaginal sponge.
- Hormonal methods
- They interfere with ovulation. They include pill, patch, vaginal ring, injection, subdermal implant and emergency contraception.
- permanent methods
- Definitive solutions such as tubal ligation o vasectomy, indicated when the offspring is already complete.
When there are difficulties in conceiving, assisted reproductive treatments They offer alternatives: artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), Egg donation y preimplantation genetic diagnosis in selected situations to prevent transmission of diseases or chromosomal abnormalities.
As part of planning, it is helpful to know your ovarian reserve: The antral follicle count by ultrasound and antimullerian hormone (AMH) Through blood tests, they provide guidance on the number of available oocytes and help decide whether it is appropriate preserve fertility (ovocyte vitrification) when motherhood is postponed.
Preconception visit, age and signs to consult
If you have decided to become parents, the best thing is go to the doctor in advance for a physical checkup and to resolve any questions about diet, habits, and lifestyle. Preconception care should adapt to each woman and have the support of your partner or family.
According to the edad, the female body has its greatest reproductive potential in the stages prior to ovarian decline. After a certain age, the risk of complications such as hypertension and gestational diabetes, in addition to a higher probability of chromosomal abnormalities in the embryos. This doesn't mean you can't have a healthy baby, but it does mean that a close monitoring by professionals with experience in pregnancies with higher obstetric risk.
Practical recommendations for your preconception consultation:
- Request ovarian reserve review (AMH and follicle count) if you are considering postponing childbearing or have a family history of early menopause.
- Comment the time planning of pregnancies: objectives, number of children desired and interval between pregnancies.
- Check out medication and supplements (avoid non-essentials and adjust as necessary).
- Plan postpartum contraception to space safely.
However, from the second to the eighth week The gestation period is when the baby is vulnerable: its organs - for example, the heart - begin to form. Therefore, it is best start acting as if you were pregnant before you actually are.
Why should you go to the gynecologist before pregnancy?
If you have decided to become parents, it is best to go to the doctor a year before from the time you want to get pregnant. This way, your doctor can perform a physical exam and discuss your diet, habits, lifestyle, and any concerns you may have.
«A healthy couple can consider pregnancy at any time without any problems. However, a preconception visit to the doctor can help resolve many doubts that sometimes arise in the first weeks of pregnancy, when there is not always an immediate healthcare professional to consult. Furthermore, the identification and monitoring of risk factor's before pregnancy can optimize maternal and fetal monitoring and outcomes.
Preconception health care should be tailored to each individual woman. Men and other family members are very important to support and encourage to women in preparing for pregnancy and achieving the goal: improving their health so that their baby is born healthy in the future.
What is the best age, in principle, to conceive a child?
The best biological time to get pregnant is when the woman is between the ages of 18 and 24. twenty-five and thirty-five yearsStudies show that women in this age group are in the best condition for a healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery. After age 35, the rate of complications increases. If you're in your late thirties or early forties, the risk of complications and some birth defects is higher, but this doesn't mean you can't have a healthy baby.
Although medicine has adapted to the delay in pregnancy for social reasons, the older the mother, the more frequent they are. diabetes and gestational hypertension, and also increases the probability of Caesarean section. In addition, oocytes present a higher rate of chromosomal abnormalities such as sÃndrome de DownThe good news is that with adequate controls and healthy habits, most pregnancies proceed normally.
Tips to prepare for pregnancy
If you smoke or use other forms of tobacco, drink alcohol, or use drugs, you should stall before becoming pregnant. These substances can:
- Make it difficult to get pregnant.
- Increase the chance of having a miscarriage (losing the baby before birth).
If you need help quitting smoking, alcohol or drugs, talk to your provider.
Even in small amounts, alcohol can cause harm to a growing fetus (unborn baby). Drinking alcohol while pregnant can cause long-term problems for your baby, such as intellectual disabilities, behavioral problems, learning difficulties, and facial and cardiac abnormalities.
Smoking is bad for the fetus and puts the child in increased risk of health problems later in life.
- Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have low birth weight babies.
- Smoking also makes it harder for you to recover from your pregnancy.
Medications that are not prescribed by a provider (including illicit drugs) they can be dangerous if you take them at any time in your life.
You should also reduce the caffeine when trying to get pregnant. Women who consume more than two cups (500 mL) of coffee or five cans (2 liters) of soda daily may have difficulty getting pregnant and a higher chance of miscarriage.
Restrict the supplements and medications Unnecessary. Review the supplements and medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, you're taking with your provider before trying to conceive. Most medications carry some risks, but many carry unknown risks and their safety hasn't been thoroughly studied. If the medications or supplements aren't absolutely necessary, don't take them.
As a reinforcement, try to sleep 7-8 horas, to practice moderate exercise (walking, swimming, yoga or pilates) and maintain a diet rich in fiber, calcium, iron and omega-3. Complete the vaccination calendar If any dose is missing and extreme food hygiene (washing fruits and vegetables, avoiding raw foods) to minimize infections.
Choosing when to have a baby is a personal decision. While deciding the timing, use a reliable method of contraception. And remember: there is no perfect time for everyone; understanding the risks and options helps you make informed decisions to safely expand your family.
