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A Little Planning Goes
a Long Way
12 Things to Think About When Trying to Conceive
By Jacqueline Rupp
Checkups have become standard throughout the course of pregnancy, but how many women fully assess their health and lifestyles before they become pregnant?
Women often don't assess their health until they encounter problems conceiving. This can lead to undue stress and wasted time. Fortunately, there are many steps women can take before pregnancy to help stack the odds in favor of having a healthy, complication-free pregnancy.
"I developed a preconception questionnaire for both the man and woman that covers past medical conditions, current health problems, family history and lifestyle concerns," says Dr. Suzanne Bathgate, assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr. Bathgate has been seeing couples for preconception counseling for more than eight years. She says that women often overlook their overall health when thinking of conceiving, and this can be a big mistake, considering many complications during pregnancy can be avoided prior to conception.
If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, step back for a moment to assess your health, your partner's health and your relationship. The time you take now to ensure a healthy start will be an investment in your baby's future. Here are 12 topics to consider:
It makes sense that it's hard to have a healthy pregnancy if you are not healthy yourself. Here are some diseases and disorders that, if diagnosed prior to conception, can make a significant difference in the health of Mother and Baby.
- Inflammatory diseases: These are diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and Lupus Erythematosus, which cause inflammation in certain body systems. "Women who have had their disease in good control for at least six months prior to conception are less likely to have disease flares and complications during pregnancy," Dr. Bathgate says. "Conceiving when the disease is quiet is also ideal."
