Pre-Pregnancy Preparation

Pregnancy is a physiological event, but sometimes some events may occur during pregnancy that can endanger the life of the mother and baby. Even in normal pregnancies, changes in the physiology of the woman can threaten the life of the mother and the baby. Determining normal changes that may occur during pregnancy, early detection of medical and pathological conditions and minimizing these effects are the first things that the physician and other health personnel should do during the follow-ups during the pregnancy period. In this period, which is called the prenatal period, it should be possible to detect and treat health problems that may occur in the expectant mother. With care during pregnancy, the mother should have a healthy and uncomplicated pregnancy, a healthy birth and a healthy baby should be born. In addition, informing the expectant mother about pregnancy care is one of the most important goals of this period.

Preconception counseling should include all women considering pregnancy, not just those with a pre-existing medical condition. It is aimed to improve pregnancy outcomes by investigating and optimizing the medical, social and genetic conditions of the expectant mother before pregnancy. pre-pregnancy interview; It includes risk identification and recommendations such as nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes. The expectant mother should be questioned in terms of systemic diseases, the presence of diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy, heart diseases, varicose veins and vascular occlusion, kidney and liver diseases, goiter disorders should be examined, infections that may affect pregnancy should be investigated, necessary examinations, treatment and referrals should be made.

Genetic characteristics of the expectant mother should be questioned and familial diseases should be considered. The woman's age, weight, previous pregnancy and birth histories, if any, should be taken in detail, and if she does not know, blood group determination should be made.

The expectant mother and her husband should be questioned in terms of work environments and hours, potential sources of stress, use of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs, and contact with heavy metals and organic solvents.

The recommended weight gain during pregnancy is 12.5-18 kg for thin women, 11.5-16 kg for normal-weight women, 7-11.5 kg for overweight women. as much. Accordingly, women who will become pregnant should be recommended to reach the ideal weight.

400 microgr for all women who are planning a pregnancy, in the 12 weeks before pregnancy and in the first 3 months of pregnancy. taking folic acid is accepted all over the world. For women with epilepsy and who have given birth to a baby with a neural tube defect, this dose is 1200 microgr. should be used throughout pregnancy.

A healthy pregnancy is essential for healthy societies, and it is possible to ensure a healthy pregnancy by pre-pregnancy examination and optimal preparation of the woman for pregnancy. Therefore, it would be beneficial for all expectant mothers to see an obstetrician at least 3 months before their planned pregnancy.