Giving your baby the best start in life means getting your own health sorted well before you become pregnant. Your general wellbeing, and any medication you're taking, can all affect your chances of having a healthy pregnancy.
It's worth making adjustments to your lifestyle too, such as eating a balanced diet and taking more exercise.
Should I see my GP before I try to get pregnant?
Yes. It's worth visiting your local surgery. Most surgeries provide pre-conceptual care, which is care before you become pregnant.
Your check-up doesn't necessarily need to be with your GP. You may see a midwife or a practice nurse instead. Some private health insurance companies also offer these kinds of checks.
However, if you have a long-running medical condition such as epilepsy, asthma or diabetes, then seeing your GP is a must.
You may need to make some changes to your treatment before you conceive. This is because some types of medication are harmful to an unborn baby. For example, it's not safe to take some medications for severe acne when you're pregnant.
If you're changing your treatment, you may need time for your body to adjust. Arrange an appointment with your doctor at least three months before you want to conceive. If you have a medical condition, it's important that it's controlled as effectively as possible before you become pregnant (NHS 2010).
Some over-the-counter medicines, such as ibuprofen, are also best avoided, because they're not safe in early pregnancy (OTIS 2010).
Will I need any medical tests?
It depends on your circumstances and general health. Your doctor may suggest you have any of the following tests:
Blood tests
If your doctor is concerned you may be anaemic, she'll advise you have a blood test.
Depending on your ethnic background and medical history, you may also have a test for genetic disorders such as sickle-cell anaemia, Tay-Sachs disease and thalassaemia.
If you're not sure whether or not you're immune to rubella, you'll be offered a blood test to check for sure.
Screening tests for STIs
If you're concerned, you can ask your GP for screening tests for sexually transmitted infections, including:
hepatitis- Bchlamydia
- syphilis
- HIV
You can have these tests done at your doctor's or at a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic. Having treatments for STIs before you conceive can greatly increase your odds of a successful pregnancy.
Cervical smear
Check when you last had a cervical smear test, and book in for one if you're due to have one within the next year. Smears aren't normally done during pregnancy. This is because pregnancy can cause changes to your cervix, making the results difficult to interpret.
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