Pre-pregnancy checkup: Questions you'll be asked during your visit

A pre-pregnancy checkup is a medical check-up that helps ensure your health during pregnancy, as well as checks for health conditions that may affect your pregnancy and the health of your unborn baby. A pre-pregnancy checkup is especially important if you've had a premature birth, a baby with a birth defect, a miscarriage, or a stillbirth.
If there are certain health conditions in your family members, you can get the advice of a medical professional. And there are many more questions to be asked when going for a pre-pregnancy checkup. In this article, we will provide useful information for you to better understand this issue.

Pre-pregnancy checkups help your doctor make sure your body is ready for pregnancy. If possible, go for a general health check-up at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospitals or Hospitals that specialize in Obstetrics and gynecology, choose for yourself a doctor you want who will monitor your health throughout your pregnancy. . You can have a prenatal visit at any time even from a year before you want to get pregnant.
Certain medical conditions such as depression, diabetes, high blood pressure and an unhealthy weight can affect your pregnancy and fertility. Smoking, drug use, and prescription drug abuse can also affect your pregnancy. Your doctor can help you manage your health and advise on changes in your life to help your baby be born healthy. If you had problems in a previous pregnancy, your doctor can help you avoid similar problems in your next pregnancy. The test will be done if you have had:
Preterm birth : This is a birth that occurred before the 37th week of pregnancy. Birth defects: Birth defects are health conditions that are present at birth. A birth defect that changes the shape or function of one or more body parts. They can cause problems with your overall health, body development or mobility. Miscarriage: When a baby dies in the womb before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Stillbirth: When a baby dies in the womb before birth, but after 20 weeks of pregnancy. During your pre-pregnancy checkup, your doctor will check your overall health to make sure your body is ready for pregnancy. Your doctor will advise you on:
Folic acid : Folic acid is a vitamin that every cell in your body needs for healthy growth and development. If you take folic acid supplements before you become pregnant and during early pregnancy, it can help protect your baby from birth defects of the brain and spine called neural tube defects, and birth defects. Birth defects in the mouth called cleft lip and cleft palate. Before getting pregnant, take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. Health conditions can affect your pregnancy: These include diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, and unhealthy weight. Your doctor will test you for infections, such as toxoplasmosis, and sexually transmitted diseases (also called STDs), such as genital herpes and human immunodeficiency virus (also known as human immunodeficiency virus). called HIV). Your doctor also asks about your family health history to see if any health conditions run in your family or your husband's family. Family health history is a record of any health problems and treatments you, your partner, and people in both your family have had. If your doctor sees any health risks running in your family, he or she may recommend seeing a genetic counselor. This is someone trained to help you understand genes, birth defects, and other medical conditions that run in families, and how they can affect the health of you and your unborn baby. Medicines you take: Your doctor wants to make sure that any medicine you take is safe for your child. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, supplements, and herbal products. Prescription drugs are medicines you are taking that have been prescribed by your doctor for your illness. Do not stop taking any prescription medication without your doctor's approval. Stopping certain medications, like those for asthma, depression, or diabetes, can be harmful to you or your child. Over-the-counter medicines, like pain relievers and cough syrups, are medicines you can buy without a prescription. Supplements, like vitamin B or vitamin C, are products you take to make up for certain nutrients that you don't get enough of in foods. Herbal products, like Ginkgo biloba or green tea, are made from herbs (plants used in cooking and medicine). Tell your doctor about any medications you take. Vaccinations: Vaccines make you immune to certain diseases. If you have immunity, you will minimize the risk of getting sick. Infections such as chickenpox and rubella (also called German measles) can harm you and your baby during pregnancy. It's best to start getting vaccinated for these infections before you get pregnant.

Smoking, drinking and drug abuse: You should quit smoking, alcohol, drugs or drugs if you want to have a baby. Unsafe chemicals at home or work: Certain chemicals, like cleaning products, paints, and weed killers, can harm your baby during pregnancy. Talk to your provider about how to protect yourself to help keep your baby safe. When to stop using birth control: Birth control (also called birth control) are methods you use to prevent pregnancy. Your doctor may suggest that you stop using birth control a few months before you start trying to get pregnant so that you have a few normal menstrual cycles. Having a normal cycle before getting pregnant can help your doctor know your due date when you're pregnant. The menstrual cycle is the process by which the ovaries release an egg (called ovulation) each month. Eggs travel through the fallopian tubes to reach the uterus. The uterus (also called the womb) is where your baby develops during pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized by a man's sperm, it passes through the vagina along with blood and tissue from the uterus. This is called your menstrual cycle.

As soon as you start thinking about trying to get pregnant, you'll want to see your doctor or midwife for a pre-pregnancy checkup. They'll start by asking you a few questions and use the information you provide to help you get physically and mentally ready for pregnancy.
2.1. Age How old are you? How old is your husband? 2.2. Gynecological history Do you have regular periods and at what age did they start? How long does the menstrual cycle last? When was your last period? What types of birth control are you using now, and what have you used in the past? Have you ever had an abnormal cervical smear result? Have you or your partner ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus (HPV) or herpes virus disease? Have you ever been diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease? Have you ever been tested for HIV? Are you in a monogamous relationship? Have you ever been told that you have an abnormality in your uterus? Have you ever had any kind of gynecological surgery? Have you ever been treated for infertility?

2.3. Obstetric history Have you ever been pregnant? Have you ever had a miscarriage? If so, how many weeks pregnant are you? Do you know the cause of miscarriage? Have you ever had an abortion? If so, in which trimester? Are there any complications? Have you ever had an ectopic pregnancy? If yes, how many weeks pregnant are you? Do you have surgery? For each child you have given birth: What is the date of birth? Place of birth? How many weeks gestational age? Sex? Birth weight? Is it a vaginal birth or a cesarean section? Have you ever had pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes, labor or premature delivery, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction or placental problems? Did you experience depression during pregnancy or postpartum depression? Did you experience any complications during labor and delivery? Have you had any postpartum complications, such as postpartum haemorrhage? 2.4. Medical history Have you ever had any serious medical problems? Specifically, if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, epilepsy or another seizure disorder, kidney disease, hepatitis or other liver disease, heart disease, blood clotting disorders, lung disease, including asthma, thyroid disease, cancer or a connective tissue disease such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis? Do you have any digestive problems? Have you ever entered the Hospital? Have you ever had problems with anesthesia? Have you ever had a blood transfusion? Have you been exposed to any communicable diseases recently? Does anyone in your family have or have had hepatitis? Tuberculosis? Has anyone in your family ever had diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, epilepsy or other seizure disorder, kidney disease, hepatitis or other liver disease, heart disease, blood clotting disorders, lung disease including asthma, thyroid disease, cancer or connective tissue disease without a disease like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis? 2.5. Medications and allergies Are you taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications (including any herbs, vitamins or supplements) and in what doses? Are you taking 400mg of folic acid per day? Just one or a multivitamin? Are you allergic to any medicine or anything or food?

2.6. Vaccination history Have you ever had chickenpox or been vaccinated against it? Did you complete your childhood measles, mumps, and rubella vaccinations? Have you ever been tested for immunity to rubella? Have you ever been vaccinated against hepatitis B? Or the human papillomavirus (HPV)? When was your last tetanus shot? Have you had your flu shot this season? 2.7. Emotional and social relationships - Have you ever suffered from mental or emotional problems, including depression or an eating disorder?
- Have you ever been a victim of domestic violence? In your current relationship, have you ever felt threatened or subjected to physical or verbal abuse? Have you ever been kicked, hit or slapped? Have you ever been forced to have sex against your will?
2.8. Lifestyle Do you smoke or use tobacco products, or are you exposed to secondhand smoke? Do you drink wine? How much and how often? Do you use stimulants? Do you drink coffee or caffeinated beverages How much per day? Do you see your dentist regularly? Do you exercise regularly? Are you having trouble maintaining a healthy weight? Do you follow any particular type of diet or have any dietary restrictions? Have you ever eaten raw or cooked meat, fish, or eggs? Do you have pets or gardeners? How often do you use hot tubs or saunas? What do you do for a living? Do you work with young children? Do you or your husband live or work near any possible hazards, such as paints or solvents, pesticides, radiation (X-rays), lead or mercury? Do you or your husband have a hobby (such as ceramics) that could expose you to toxic substances?

2.9. Questions about genetic screening Have you seen a genetic counselor or carrier screening for genetic disorders? Also, has anyone in your or your husband's family (including your children or children of a previous relationship) ever:
- Structural birth defects, such as spina bifida (or other neural tube defects), heart or kidney defects?
- Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities?
- Intellectual disability of other (or unknown) causes, developmental delay or autism ? Have you been tested for fragile X syndrome?
- Many miscarriages or stillbirths?
Finally, if there's anything else you think is important that hasn't been asked, mention the date of your visit.
In order to help couples plan pregnancy and ensure a safe pregnancy and healthy baby, Vinmec International General Hospital has implemented a Pre-pregnancy Care and Counseling Program with The team of experts directly examines and advises, offers pregnancy preparation plans suitable for each specific case, thereby achieving the set expectations.
Why should you choose to visit Vinmec International General Hospital?
Simple and quick procedure. Enthusiastic advice and support, reasonable and convenient examination process. Comprehensive facilities, including a system of clinics and consultations, blood collection room, dining room, waiting area for customers... The medical staff has high professional qualifications, style. Professional, caring way of working.

Reference source: marchofdimes.org; babycenter.com