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What You Should Know Before You Conceive
Veteran Advice Before You Conceive
By Shel Franco
Unfortunately, not all pregnancies are picturesque. There are moments of heavy stress and inner turmoil. But all women should be aware that modern medicine can actually contribute to the worry.
Rena Tassinari, a former Babies Today diary writer, had two Alpha Fetal Protein (AFP) tests indicate an increased risk for Down syndrome. "... The doctors scared me to death about there possibly being something wrong with my baby," she says.
Tassinari opted for an amniocentesis with her first pregnancy, but when an AFP yielded similar results with her second pregnancy, she was much better educated about the high rate of false positives. Instead of accepting another stressful and possibly dangerous amniocentesis, Tassinari felt comfortable with an ultrasound that showed no "soft signs" of Down syndrome.
Before you conceive is the time to read and research, so that when and if something abnormal occurs, your tendency toward emotional decision-making is backed by rational thought and information, not just the doctor's or nurse's word and opinion.
As time progresses and the baby grows, the symptoms of pregnancy grow, too.
"I really am too tired to do much of anything these last few weeks," says Nicole Ticknor, a Pregnancy Today diary writer. "If [my hsband and I] knew ahead of time, we certainly would have traveled a lot more right before conceiving."
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