Preconception Counseling: Everything You Need to Know in 2024

Preconception counseling, a proactive approach to pregnancy planning, empowers couples to optimize their health and create the best possible environment for a thriving baby. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that nearly half (50%) of all pregnancies are unplanned. This can lead to complications such as low birth weight, premature delivery, and even mid-trimester spontaneous abortion.

However, preconception counseling offers a powerful tool to mitigate these risks. By receiving guidance before conception, women can embark on their pregnancy journey with a solid foundation. This includes maintaining a healthy weight, optimizing their nutritional needs, and taking targeted interventions to reduce the risk of complications significantly.

This blog discusses important insights on preconception counseling, detailing what it includes, who this is for, and what to expect afterward.

What Are the Key Areas of Preconception Health?

Preconception counseling emphasizes the importance of planning and preparing for a healthy pregnancy before conceiving. There are four key areas that you should focus on when it comes to preconception health, including:

1. Nutrition

A balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients is essential for preparing the body for pregnancy. 

Take 400 micrograms of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects. Folic acid is rich in whole grains, citrus fruits, spinach, fortified cereals and breads, nuts, etc. Include at least 1000 mg of calcium a day, which can be obtained from canned salmon, rice, cheese, and low-fat yogurt. 

A healthy pregnancy starts with a healthy body weight. While being overweight can lead to intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, congenital anomalies, stillbirth, etc., underweight is associated with preterm birth, nutritional deficiencies, low birth weight, infertility, etc.

So, maintaining a healthy weight through proper nutrition helps improve fertility and decrease the risk of complications during pregnancy.

2. Physical Activity

Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight and improves overall fitness levels. Typically, 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise for five days every week is recommended. However, don't exercise to exhaustion or engage in workouts that may increase the risk of falling. 

3. Mental Health

Your provider will examine your mental health. Anxiety, depression, eating disorders, panic attacks, bipolar disorders, and stress can impact fertility and increase pregnancy complications. Take steps to manage stress, seek support, and practice self-care for a healthier mindset and overall well-being.

4. Lifestyle Choices

While smoking causes miscarriage and stillbirth, drinking results in fetal alcohol syndrome, and toxins (asbestos, pesticides, lead, etc.) in your environment and workplace affect your pregnancy. So, avoiding smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and toxin exposure can minimize complications during pregnancy.

Impact of Preconception Health on Pregnancy and Childbirth

Preconception counseling significantly impacts pregnancy outcomes, including the risk of preterm birth, birth defects, and maternal complications. By preparing your body for pregnancy through healthy lifestyle choices and regular medical check-ups, you can increase your chances of a successful pregnancy and reduce the likelihood of complications.

Preconception counseling is intended to:

• Help you conceive safely.
• Ensure optimal health and wellness for you and your baby.
• Minimize pregnancy and delivery complications.

Who Is the Target Group for Preconception Care?

Preconception care is essential for:

1. Couples Planning to Start a Family

Preconception care involves behavioral, biomedical, and social health interventions for couples before conception, enhancing their overall health and well-being while minimizing behaviors and factors that may impact maternal and child health outcomes.

2. Women with Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Preconception care helps detect pre-existing medical conditions that could potentially affect the outcomes of pregnancy, including hypertension, diabetes, or infections. Earlier diagnosis and treatment of these conditions can enhance your health before pregnancy.

3. Individuals with Genetic or Familial Concerns

Individuals with genetic or familial concerns, such as a family history of genetic disorders or birth defects, should also seek preconception care to discuss potential risks and options for genetic testing and make targeted interventions accordingly.

What Is the Role of Healthcare Providers in Preconception Counseling?

Seeking professional guidance for preconception care is essential as it can help identify and address any potential risks or problems before pregnancy. Your provider can offer personalized advice on lifestyle factors such as nutrition, diet, weight management, exercise, and medication that can impact fertility and pregnancy outcomes. All these can ensure a healthy and happy pregnancy and delivery.

Here is what your provider will do during your preconception counseling:

• Perform a physical exam (may include a pelvic exam) and check your vitals (blood pressure, respiratory rate, weight, etc.) to assess your general health.
• Order lab tests to look for signs of underlying conditions or infections that may need treatment.
• Recommend genetic tests for you and your partner to diagnose inherited conditions, such as sickle cell disease and Tay-Sachs.
• Review your existing conditions, current medications, prior surgeries, menstrual health, use of birth control, and complications from previous pregnancies.
• Review your and your partner's family history to get insights into genetic disorders your child may inherit.

Based on these tests, your provider will offer guidance on:

• The right time to get pregnant by pinpointing when you ovulate (release an egg) every month.
• When it is safe for a second pregnancy, depending on your health and age, because conceiving soon after delivering a baby can increase pregnancy complications.
• The right time and situation for delivering a baby. For example, age can impact your fertility rates so that they may advise interventions and management for a safe pregnancy. 
• What vaccinations should you receive before pregnancy to protect you and your baby
• Managing existing medical conditions.

What to Expect After Preconception Counseling?

After your preconception counseling, your gynecologist may offer personalized advice on lifestyle changes, including:

• Quitting smoking and drinking.
• Eating a balanced diet.
• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Being physically active.
• Getting recommended vaccinations.
• Managing stress and anxiety with yoga and meditation.
• Taking recommended vitamins, including prenatal vitamins.
• Avoid medicines that harm you or your baby.

Final Thoughts

By discussing medical history, lifestyle choices, and genetic disorders with a gynecologist before conception, women can receive professional guidance on how to optimize their reproductive health and reduce potential risks.

This proactive approach improves pregnancy outcomes while allowing for early detection and management of underlying health conditions that may affect fertility or prenatal development. Overall, preconception counseling empowers women to make informed decisions concerning reproductive health.

Get Top-Notch Preconception Counseling at North Atlanta Women's Care

If you are planning for a baby and want to ensure a healthy pregnancy, visit North Atlanta Women's Care. We offer comprehensive preconception counseling services that can help you optimize your health before conception.

Our gynecologists can assess your current health status, provide guidance on prenatal vitamins and nutrition, discuss any potential risks or concerns, and offer personalized recommendations to improve your chances of a pregnancy. Contact us today for risk-free pregnancy and delivery.