Are you planning to become pregnant? Here is the healthy and safe way

Are you planning to become pregnant? Here is the healthy and safe way
All women know that pregnancy follow-up requires many examinations and movement from one clinic to another, but some women may be surprised that routine treatments and checks that must be performed in the context of pregnancy follow-up in order to ensure a safe pregnancy - start practically before the sentences themselves. In the stage where you and your husband plan to become pregnant, and before you start "trying" to do so, there are some steps that must be taken in order for the pregnancy to be as healthy and healthy as possible.

You decided to go pregnant with pregnancy - what should you do now?

The happy stage, in which you and your husband decide to go through the pregnancy experience, is the stage where you must take care of your body and lifestyle in order to ensure your health, the health of your fetus and the health of pregnancy. At the beginning of the road, you should see a gynecologist and get advice from him about the steps you need to take on various levels - and he will guide you.

It is advisable and advisable to receive medical advice during the pregnancy planning stage.

What would you do if a pregnancy occurred before receiving a gynecologist's advice?

There is nothing wrong! It is advisable and advisable to receive medical advice during the pregnancy planning stage. This is the best situation, but if it did not happen and you got pregnant, go for a consultation immediately after the pregnancy is discovered (at this stage, too, there is great importance for medical advice).

What tests and preparations should be done before pregnancy?

Taking vitamins: Folic acid is of great importance - to a healthy fetus and pregnancy. Folic acid deficiency may lead to fetal developmental abnormalities. Thus, the Ministry of Health advises all women of fertile age to take folic acid permanently. If you are planning to become pregnant, start taking folic acid - according to the dosage recommended by your doctor, at least three months before conception; And at least three months during pregnancy.

It is also important to make sure that you have sufficient levels of Vitamin D and Vitamin B12. A proper level of Vitamin D prevents complications, such as preeclampsia. If blood tests show that there is a lack of these vitamins, your doctor will advise you on taking the appropriate nutritional supplements.

Genetic testing: In each health fund, there is a qualified nurse counselor to provide counseling to couples about the genetic tests that are recommended to be performed before pregnancy, taking into account the origin of the husbands. There is a wide range of genetic examinations, part of which is funded by the Ministry of Health and included in the basket of health services; You must pay for other checks. It is important to be aware of all available examinations, how important and necessary they are - and decide on the need to perform them according to your personal considerations. For example, a special examination is available today, examining the gene sequence of spouses and allowing the potential risks to be detected and prepared adequately.

Tests to check for the absence of infectious diseases: It is recommended that women perform genetic tests to ensure that there are no infectious diseases such as CMV. It is important to know whether or not a woman became ill with CMV in the past or did not get sick in the past and did not receive a CMV vaccination, and therefore CMV status should be monitored during pregnancy. Anti-rubella should also be examined. If a woman does not receive a measles vaccination, she must receive the vaccination before pregnancy - and it is advisable to wait three months from receiving the vaccination until conception.

Take the opportunity to stop harmful habits.

Consultation on chronic diseases and the use of medications: If you suffer from any chronic diseases whatsoever, you must inform the attending physician of this - and also receive counseling from the attending physician. In addition, if you are taking medications permanently, consult a doctor about continuing to take these medications during pregnancy.

Lifestyle change: Every woman should maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow habits that contribute to improving and maintaining her health. Many women fail in this challenge, but the will to make pregnancy healthy and easy - can be a great motivator and a golden opportunity to do what you've always dreamed of. If you started pregnancy with a healthy body weight, and during the planning period of pregnancy and during the pregnancy itself, you maintained a balanced nutrition and exercised appropriate physical activity - this will contribute a lot to your health, fetal health and pregnancy health. Excess weight is generally not desirable, especially during pregnancy. Excess weight is considered a risk factor for pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes and others.

In this context, it is important to address smoking cessation - and to stop consuming alcohol. Alcohol and smoking are harmful to health in general, and to the health of the fetus and pregnancy in particular. If you are planning to become pregnant, take the opportunity to quit these harmful habits - and keep in mind that continuing to consume alcohol and smoking can cause significant damage to the fetus, sure for the first trimester of pregnancy.

When is it recommended to perform all these checks and preparations?

About three months before conception, proper preparation must begin. It is enough time to lead a healthy lifestyle and to take the necessary checks. It is very important to refrain from consuming harmful substances - medications, cigarettes, unhealthy foods and alcohol, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. At this point, the organs of the fetus are formed - this is a critical and sensitive period. Do not wait for confirmation that you are pregnant in order to stop harmful habits. Starting in the first days of pregnancy, the effect of these factors on the fetus is very large, and you must determine this.More information: Pregnancy generation account


Dr.. Yusuf Har Touf is a gynecologist, deputy director of the ultrasound unit at Tel Aviv Medical Center (Liss Hospital).