Prepregnancy Counseling

Pregnancy may be one of the most significant milestones in some women’s lives. Pregnancy, or producing and carrying a future offspring, is considered an important medical condition that can come with its risks and clear benefits. Before any pregnancy, the healthy start is counseling to improve your odds for a successful and healthy pregnancy.

A healthy pregnancy begins months before conception. Visit Manhattan Women’s Health and Wellness in-person or call us to schedule an appointment with one of our OBGYN’s, located in Midtown and on the Upper East Side.

Nutrition in Pregnancy

While during the first trimester, your body does not require a significant increase in caloric intake to initiate a pregnancy, however as your pregnancy continues, the caloric intake for maintaining a healthy pregnancy also progresses. For this reason, it is vital to evaluate your current nutritional status, diet, food allergies, and eating habits before pregnancy to decrease any potential bad outcomes in pregnancy due to nutritional deficits.

Specific diets such as Veganism or vegetarianism may require additional nutrient supplementation during pregnancy to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Additionally, you need several vital vitamins and minerals for pregnancy. Some of these recommended by the CDC include but are not limited to:

• Folic Acid – helps prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida
• Iron – helps promote oxygen transport and healthy blood levels
• Vitamin D – helps build bone
• Calcium – helps build bone in conjunction with vitamin D
• B6 – helps with energy levels and may help prevent nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
• B12 – helps promote energy, metabolism, and healthy blood levels
• Other vitamins such as DHA (especially in lactating women) and Vitamin A, E, and several other minerals are also beneficial in pregnancy

Discussion of Medical History

Identifying medical concerns such as pre-existing diseases before pregnancy is crucial to proceed with a healthy pregnancy. You may need to optimize conditions such as diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) before conceiving for the best chance at a successful pregnancy, whether facilitating conception or maintaining and carrying to term. A complete history and physician is essential, especially for these reasons.

Your gynecologist at Midtown gynecology clinic will also discuss your uterine and ovulatory health, especially if you have a history of abnormal bleeding. This issue can sometimes mean you may have a disturbance in the uterus such as fibroids or polyps that can lead to miscarriages or the inability to become pregnant. Ultrasounds can help identify these issues.

Early ultrasounds can prove indispensable in detecting abnormalities before and during early pregnancy.

Taking a list of current medications and discussing which are considered safe in pregnancy is very important. Many medications can lead to congenital disabilities, even if taken when a woman is pregnant but has not yet missed her menses. Some medication that may not be safe to take at different portions of pregnancy can include but are certainly not limited to:

• Pepto-Bismol, or Bismuth subsalicylate
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• Medications with Guaifenesin, phenylephrine, or pseudoephedrine (cold medications)
• ACE Inhibitors such as lisinopril
• Accutane for acne
• Valproic acid, a medication commonly used for preventing seizures
• Doxycycline, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides common antibiotics
• Warfarin for prevention of blood clots
• Lithium a medication used for psychiatric disorders
• Paroxetine a medication used for depression
• Xanax, Alprazolam, used for anxiety

The specialist should always offer genetic condition screening to women attempting to become pregnant. This medical test can reduce the risk for miscarriages and potentially help receive an early referral to a facility dealing with the specific or underlying genetic disorder.

Immunization status, recent travel, sexually transmitted diseases, and healthy weight are also portions of the exam that your gynecologist may discuss with you when trying for the best outcome in pregnancy.

Important Reminder: This information’s only intent is to provide gynecology guidance, not definitive medical advice. Please consult an OBGYN doctor about your specific condition. Only a trained, experienced gynecologist or certified gynecology specialist can determine an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

Have questions about Pre-pregnancy Counseling? Please schedule an appointment with the best-rated OBGYN specialist in Manhattan, New York, by calling our office today.

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