Preparing for Pregnancy. Presented by: Obstetrician/Gynecologist Christina Kramer, M.D.

Transcription

1 Preparing for Pregnancy Presented by: Obstetrician/Gynecologist Christina Kramer, M.D.

2 What to Expect Today Learn how to optimize your health to maximize your chances of pregnancy Discover the elements of planning for a pregnancy and take action Learn about and understand your menstrual cycle especially ovulation Embrace and strive for nine months

3 Why PLAN for a pregnancy/baby? Planning optimizes: Fertility/Conception Health yours and the baby s Preparedness

4 Elements of an Ideal Plan

5 4-Step Pregnancy Plan 1) Pre-pregnancy Doctor Check-up 2) Healthy Living 3) Know your most Fertile Days 4) Know you are Pregnant Sooner

6 Step One: Make a pre-pregnancy healthcare visit

7 Pre-pregnancy healthcare visit Why it s important This visit allows you to: Express your desire for a baby Ask questions Address concerns Make lifestyle/health changes as directed by your healthcare provider Be prepared with a solid knowledge of your health history and a list of questions

8 What your healthcare provider needs to know Past medical history Diabetes? High blood pressure? Active or past infections? Up-to-date immunizations Previous pregnancy information Medications; over-the-counter or prescription (including herbal supplements) Drug or alcohol use; past or present

9 Questions to ask your physician prior to becoming pregnant Should I continue or start vitamins? What about additional folic acid? How is my weight now? Do I need to lose or gain any weight prior to becoming pregnant? Can I continue to take my prescription medications and overthe-counter medications or supplements? What if premature birth runs in my family?

10 Step Two: Embrace healthy living & take care of yourself * Be sure to follow all of your healthcare providers recommendations

11 Healthy Living: Nutritional Needs Well-balanced diet containing all the major food groups Do not start a diet program to lose or gain too much weight over a short period of time Could affect your reproductive cycle Take a multivitamin or prenatal vitamin with 400 micrograms of Folic Acid Helps prevent brain and spinal cord birth defects

12 Healthy Living: Exercise Establish a daily exercise program prior to pregnancy and plan to stick with it through your pregnancy (as recommended by your healthcare provider) Strengthen muscles needed during pregnancy & delivery Kegel s Abdominal and back strength Improve circulation Relieve common aches & pains Control weight gain

13 Healthy Living: Emotional Health Learn how to manage everyday stress Get plenty of sleep Try stress-reducers such as meditation, music, etc. Take time for your self Seek help for symptoms of depression and anxiety A HAPPY Mom makes for a HAPPY Baby

14 Healthy Living: Kick Unhealthy Habits Eliminate alcohol consumption Stop smoking and avoid second hand smoke Do not take illegal drugs Wean yourself from caffeine Avoid hazardous substances and chemicals

15 Step Three: Know your most fertile days

16 Quick review of the menstrual cycle What is the menstrual cycle? The series of changes a woman s body goes through to prepare for a possible pregnancy Uterine lining builds up to accept and protect a fertilized egg If a pregnancy does not occur, the uterine lining sheds (usually monthly)

17 The window of opportunity Ovulation is that time in the menstrual cycle when a mature egg is released from the ovary Key to becoming or avoiding pregnancy Dates vary from woman to woman depending on cycle length Typically occurs 14 days before menstruation begins Your fertile days start five days before ovulation (sperm can live 3 days)

18 Signs of ovulation Breast Tenderness Mittelschmerz - brief period of sharp pain on one side of the lower abdomen (the side where the egg was released) Cervical mucous changes Amount of mucous increases Texture becomes elastic, stretchy, slippery, thin and clear

19 How to guide finding your fertile days Observe signs Basal body temperature (BBT) Home ovulation kits - tend to predict ovulation better than the BBT or cervical mucus methods

20 Ovulation Predictor Tests Urine test (like a pregnancy test) Measures the surge in Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in urine Occurs hours before ovulation Predicts the 2 days each month that you are most likely to conceive Helps you understand your cycle better

21 Step Four Know you are pregnant sooner than later

22 The sooner you know you are pregnant, the sooner you can take better care of yourself and your baby

23 Know the Signs Absence of Menstruation Morning Sickness (nausea/vomiting) Frequent urination Tender, swollen breasts Darkening of areola (area around nipple) and raised glands around the nipple Blue & pink lines under breasts and on abdomen Food cravings

24 Human chorionic gonadatropin The pregnancy hormone (hcg) Measured in urine by at-home pregnancy kits Measured in blood labs ordered by your healthcare provider The level of hcg increases as your pregnancy progresses During early pregnancy before your missed period, there is a special variant of hcg that is better for detecting early pregnancy Hyperglycosolated hcg

25 Home pregnancy tests Over 99% Accurate at detecting typical pregnancy hormone levels Hormone levels can vary There must be enough hcg present in urine for a pregnancy test to be able to detect it The more sensitive a pregnancy test is, the lower the level of hcg it is able to detect Some are sensitive enough to detect 5 days before your missed period in most women Some women may not have enough Hcg at this time and should retest at a later date if they think they may be pregnant

26 What if You Experience Difficulty Getting Pregnant? Talk with your healthcare provider if: You are 34 and younger and have not conceived within one year of trying You are 35 and older and have not conceived within 6 months of trying

27 Now that you are pregnant Maximize your chances for a healthy, full-term baby

28 Your goal Nine months of pregnancy for a healthy, full-term bundle of joy!

29 To do list: Schedule an appointment with your gynecologist to confirm the pregnancy Continue healthy living including eating right and taking vitamins If you smoke, stop immediately If you drink alcohol, caffeine or use illicit drugs, stop immediately Ask your OB/Gynecologist for help

30 To do list: Manage your expected and desired weight gain with your provider Have fun and manage life stress with relaxation and exercise Discuss your exercise plan with your OB/Gynecologist

31 Maximize your chances of becoming pregnant Be your healthiest take care of yourself Discuss your plans with your healthcare provider Know your cycle Zero in on ovulation

32 Locations Obstetrician/ Gynecologists Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Crosby Riverwood Healthcare, Aitkin Baxter Medical Clinic, Baxter Appointments or