Pre-pregnancy counselling explained

Every woman worries about the health status of both her and her baby during pregnancy, however, it is essential for her to be in optimal health prior to pregnancy. Renowned obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Sameena Kausar discusses the importance of pre-pregnancy counselling, including its benefits for both mother and baby.

What is pre-pregnancy counselling and why is it important?

The goal of pre-conception care is to improve the long and short-term health outcomes of women and their children.

Pre-conception care is fundamental because:

• Women's health at conception and in early pregnancy impacts not only their health but also that of their children.
• It allows any physical and mental health conditions the woman may have, as well as social needs to be addressed and managed prior to pregnancy.
• It permits women to be aware of potential risks, and the options available to manage those risks. They are then able to make an informed decision about their pregnancy.
• Many potentially modifiable risk factors which influence pregnancy outcomes are present prior to conception, which means that prenatal care is often given too late to change the outcome of the pregnancy.

What should I expect during a pre-pregnancy counselling session?

During pre-pregnancy counselling, you will be offered general consultation on a wide range of subjects including:

• Diet
• Weight management
• Smoking and alcohol consumption
• Prescriptions (over the counter, and herbal medicines)
• Cervical screening
• Immunisation status

If the woman is suffering from a mental health or chronic medical condition, she will be offered specific pre-conception management advice, including specialist referral when appropriate.

What are the recommended pre-pregnancy tests and screenings?

There are multiple recommended pre-pregnancy tests, including the following:

• Cervical screening
• Well-being check
• Hypertension screening
• Diabetes screening
• A baseline review of renal and cardiac and liver function
• Underlying clotting disorders
• Immunisation status
• Sexual health screening

How can pre-pregnancy counselling help me have a healthy pregnancy and baby?

Pre-pregnancy counselling leads the way to having a healthy start to pregnancy. Preconception care is individualised and specific to those considering pregnancy. It focuses on reducing morbidity and mortality for the patient and the fetus, increasing the chances of conception when pregnancy is desired, and providing contraceptive counselling to help prevent unintended pregnancies.

The goal of pre-pregnancy care is to reduce the risk of adverse health effects for the woman, fetus, and neonate by working with the woman to optimise health, address modifiable risk factors, and provide education about healthy pregnancy.

Are there any lifestyle changes I should make before getting pregnant?

When planning a pregnancy, women must take into account their lifestyle and consider whether they must change their habits. Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs can put a pregnancy at risk, therefore women considering pregnancy should cease use of these.

The pregnancy can also be put at risk by maternal health problems, such as:

• high blood pressure
• obesity
• diabetes
• epilepsy
• thyroid disease
• heart or blood disorders
• poorly controlled asthma
• infections

Due to these factors, clinical assessment can help in optimising pregnancy outcomes.

If you are planning a pregnancy and would like to learn more about pre-pregnancy counselling, you can book a consultation with Dr Kausar via her Top Doctors profile today.