You may not be pregnant yet, but the best way to care for your future pregnancy is to get a thorough top-to-bottom preconception checkup. A full-body tune-up now will make it easier to tackle health issues before baby’s on board and will help ensure your pregnancy is a safe and healthy one.
How should I prepare for my preconception checkup?
It doesn’t take much to prepare for your preconception checkup (other than actually making the appointment with your gynecologist), but there are a number of questions you’ll be asked during your appointment, so here’s a checklist of the information you’ll need to gather before you head to the doctor’s office:
- The type of birth control you are on. Your doctor will let you know when to stop your birth control and how long you should ideally wait, if at all, before you can start trying for that baby of yours.
- Your menstrual cycles. You’ll be asked about the date of your last period and the length of your cycles. This will help guide a discussion about your fertility and the best time each month to try to conceive.
- Your diet and lifestyle habits. Be prepared to be asked about what you eat and whether you drink or smoke.[1] You and your doctor will discuss ways to boost your fertility through possible diet and lifestyle changes if needed.
- A list of the medications you currently take. Whether it’s over-the-counter or prescription, you and your doctor will discuss all the drugs (as well as vitamins and herbal supplements) you take. Depending on the medication (some are safe during pregnancy, others may not be), a change may be in the cards.
- Any chronic conditions or medical problems you have. Any medical problems that should be treated before conception or will need to be monitored during pregnancy are important to talk about now, so have your medical history, including your mental health history, at the ready. The good news is that with the right care and precautions, most chronic conditions are perfectly compatible with getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy.
- Your family history. When you’re starting a family, your family tree matters — which is why your doctor will want to check it out. Dig as deeply as you can, and write down everything you unearth, so you’ll be ready to answer the family history questions you’ll get from your practitioner. For instance, your doctor will want to know if there’s a history of breast cancer (and, depending on that answer, may recommend you get a baseline mammogram before you conceive). Your doctor will also ask about you and your partner’s family history of medical conditions (such as type 2 diabetes) and pregnancy conditions (such as preeclampsia) that might affect your pregnancy. And since multiples can run in families, be sure to share any twin trends on both your sides of the tree.
What tests and screenings will I get at my preconception appointment?
Your preconception checkup will include a lot of pre-pregnancy-specific tests and screenings, plus many of the standard screenings you’re used to from your regular annual visit. Here’s what you can expect:
