If you are considering starting your family in the next 1-3 months now is the time to begin preparing. Whether this is your first pregnancy or fifth, you can increase your chances of a healthy baby if you consider some basic facts prior to conception. It’s also recommended to plan a preconception health visit with your fertility specialist.
What is a Preconception Health Visit?
Preconception health starts before you are pregnant. Healthy individuals have the best chance of becoming pregnant, remaining complication free and delivering a normal baby.
When Should I Schedule My Preconception Visit?
You should schedule a visit with your doctor or fertility specialist at least 3 months prior to conception. This allows you and your provider to plan for your health as well as your baby’s. Assuming you are healthy because your previous pregnancy was complication-free can be risky.
Schedule your visit to Inovi Fertility & Genetics Today! Call 713-401-9000
Why Your Family History and Health Record Is Important
Good preconception planning starts with a record of your past and present health along with that of your spouse and both sets of relatives. Gathering the most accurate information can assist your fertility specialist in developing a treatment plan to keep you and your baby on the right track.
If possible, prepare a family history prior to your First Steps meeting. You may find the following link from the CDC helpful with your process. https://phgkb.cdc.gov/FHH/html/index.html
Your family history may provide insight into existing conditions and familial or ethnic genetic trends such as:
- Sickle cell disease
- Tay-Sachs disease
- Other birth and genetic defects
Additional Information About Planning Fertility
How Will This Information Be Used?
Once your health and family history is discussed, you will be scheduled for a routine physical exam, blood testing and an ultrasound. These assist your fertility team with diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause of previous pregnancy complications or ensure that you are in good health to get pregnant. We will screen for conditions that could interfere with future pregnancies including:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- PCOS
- Endometriosis
- Autoimmune disorders (ex: Lupus, Multiple sclerosis)
Other genetic testing may be required based on your preconception visit with your fertility specialist.
This information is always treated in highest confidence and stored in compliance with all federal HIPAA requirements.
How Your Weight Increases Fertility Chances
Keeping a normal body weight has proven to increase your fertility chances as well as help you remain healthy during pregnancy. Being either under or overweight can lead to fertility issues.
It is shown that obese pregnant women have a higher risk for gestational diabetes, hypertension and preeclampsia. Other potential complications leading to infertility associated with being overweight are:
- Higher risk of miscarriage
- Intrauterine death of fetus
- Fetal growth abnormalities
- Birth defects
- Premature births
- Need for Cesarean delivery
Getting your body ready for pregnancy is important. If you are overweight or underweight, our counselors can help you get in preconception shape prior and through your pregnancy.
Our doctors may discuss with you your body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of your body fat based on weight and height, in order to determine if you need to gain or lose weight.
Related Topics
- Fertility First Steps
- Vitamins and Supplements
- Nutrition
- Emotional Aspects of Fertility Treatment
- Ovulation Calculator
Ready to talk fertility treatments?
Give us a call at 713-401-9000 to discuss the best option for your fertility. During your initial appointment, Dr. Stephan Krotz will give you a through exam in order to recommend the right treatment to help you grow your family.