Pre-conception Recommendations
Consider preparing for pregnancy as
if training for a great race. This is a race of endurance,
not speed; a race in which a teammate must be carried; and
a race that must be finished without being short of breath.
This race requires both good health and pre-race planning.
There is no question that the state of health in which a pregnancy
is established goes far in maximizing your baby's health.
Listed below are basic guidelines. If there are questions
please ask.
- MEDICAL PROBLEMS/ MEDICATIONS:
Make sure your physician is aware of any chronic medical
conditions and medication use as well as supplements.
- TOBACCO / CAFFEINE / ALCOHOL:
Multiple studies have shown a strong link between smoking
(any form of tobacco use) and male/female infertility. PLEASE
limit or stop smoking. Studies on caffeine and alcohol use
are not so clear, but excessive use should be avoided.
- EXERCISE / WEIGHT:
Maintain a regular physical activity that concentrates on
flexibility and mobility rather than endurance. Aggressive
exercise may reduce fertility. Walking is excellent. If
you are overweight, even modest weight loss can improve
fertility. Aggressive dieting should be avoided. The C.A.R.S.
nutritionist is available to help you with questions and
designing a specific lifestyle program to meet your needs.
- VITAMINS / FOLIC ACID:
It is recommended that you take an additional 400 micrograms
of folic acid daily. Adding this to a good quality standard
multivitamin, even a chewable preparation, should meet all
needs and cause fewer side effects than the typical “prenatal”
vitamin.
- RUBELLA / CHICKEN POX:
If you have never had or been immunized against either of
these diseases it is strongly suggested that you should
be immunized. Present guidelines are to wait one month after
receiving these vaccines before attempting pregnancy.
- AIDS / HEPATITIS:
In keeping with national guidelines, testing for human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) and hepatitis B/C will be performed unless there
is documented evidence of immunity or written refusal.
- CYSTIC FIBROSIS:
Screening is offered to all patients and highly recommended
for couples with a family history of the disease.
- PAP: We
follow the most current guidelines for cervical screening.
If you have not had a pap smear within the last year, please
let us know.
- MAMMOGRAM:
A baseline screening mammogram is recommend in all women
at age 35 and yearly after age 40.
- FLU vaccine:
For those patients at higher risk, influenza vaccine is
recommend prior to the start of the flu season.
- TB skin test:
Testing in pregnancy is ok if you are considered high risk
regarding exposure to TB. This will be decided on an individual
basis.
- Live well. Live happy.
Stress is a normal part of life and is magnified by infertility.
For most the chances for pregnancy are very good. Let us
help you.
We feel that is important to your health and that of your
future baby that you have received and understand the above
suggestions. Please acknowledge that you have read this
information by signing below.
BACK
HOME |
