
Preconceptual counseling is intended to assess the risks of pregnancy for a woman before she gets pregnant. The risks can be to the woman herself if she has a health problem like obesity or diabetes that increases the risk of complications.
There are also risks to the baby. For example, some birth defects can run in families; if the woman belongs to such a family, any child she has may be born with the condition.
At Associates in Women’s Health in Cincinnati, the woman and one of our certified doctors discuss the risks of pregnancy and ways to mitigate those risks. If the woman is overweight, for example, she will be told to lose weight.
During the counseling session, a woman’s physical history is discussed in extensive detail.
Likely topics will include the following:
In addition to discussing the above topics, the doctor may also examine the patient physically. The doctor may also order pelvic exams, Pap smears and various lab tests to check for diseases like rubella or hepatitis that can complicate a pregnancy and/or cause birth defects.
The doctor may also check the patient’s vaccination records to make sure they are all current, and the patient is protected against diseases like rubella.
If you are interested in preconceptual counseling, contact Associates in Women’s Health today to schedule an appointment.