Pre-Conception Counseling: More Than Diet & Exercise Recommendations

If you are planning to start a family, the odds are highly likely that you've already researched the various aspects of pregnancy and conception so as to be prepared for the next chapter of your life. As part of your family planning, it is important to consider all pre-conception matters beyond those of diet and exercise.

With many family planning programs offering pre-conception advice and guidance, one of the most common aspects a woman learns is the importance of preparation and increasing the amount of folic acid in order to prevent neural tube defects. But, pre-conception planning goes well beyond this one simple piece of advice.

Pre-conception planning involves the preparation for conceiving and preparing for pregnancy several months in advice. For many women, the consultation with the obstetrician, or gynecologist, may include routine recommendations for diet and exercise, coupled with advice on modifying lifestyle choices including the cessation of smoking and eliminating alcohol intake.

In addition to these general 'common sense' pre-conception preparations, your physician should also consult with you on other matters as part of your pre-conception planning. Issues such as relationship stability and domestic violence are often overlooked but, today, many healthcare professionals are beginning to screen for these factors are part of the pre-conception visit.

In addition to psychological and emotional health, your physician should also run a series of tests including testing for HIV, syphilis and make sure your immunizations are current. Discussions on managing pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and also discussing the ways in which to avoid pregnancy related complications and infections, such as toxoplasmosis and parvovirus B19 are also important.