Pre Pregnancy Preparation
“It all begins somewhere. Most people have the opportunity to do at least a little bit of planning before their pregnancy, but sometimes it is a surprise (and what an amazing surprise!).”
Private care
If you are hoping to have private care at Cabrini it is important to confirm that your private health insurance cover includes obstetrics, and double check on waiting times as well. Some of the budget friendly funds will only cover private care in a public hospital.
Lifestyle choices
There are some important lifestyle choices you can make in preparation for pregnancy that may assist with conception, a healthy pregnancy and baby. A good place to start is with an appointment with your GP. If you don’t have a GP now is the best time to find one.
Start by taking a folate/folic acid supplement. We recommend 0.5mg folic acid each day for at least three months before you conceive. If you are on certain medications or have a family history of spinal cord developmental abnormalities you will need to take a higher dose.
Make healthy lifestyle choices. We recommend that both mums and dads-to-be quit smoking, that mums limit or cease alcohol intake and dads also cut back, and mums decrease their caffeine intake to about 200mg per day. This is equivalent to two cups of regular coffee.
Being a healthy weight will increase your chances of conceiving. Our menstrual cycles are the most regular when our weight is normal. This is Mother Nature’s way of helping us have a healthier pregnancy and birth. Use a Body Mass Index calculator to work out if your weight is in the healthy range. If you do need to lose weight, do so in a way that you will be able to sustain -sensible food choices, smaller portion sizes, healthier snacks between meals as well as daily exercise. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day. Doing any physical activity is better than doing none, build it into your daily routine, and try and find activities that you enjoy so it is easier to stay motivated.
Fertile window
Begin to understand your menstrual cycle and your fertile window. Typically you are most fertile 12-14 days before your period starts, this is where a regular cycle really helps with planning. You can use a pregnancy app to help track your cycle such as Fertility Friend and Ovia Pregnancy Tracker. You can buy ovulation tracking kits from your chemist - the urine kits are far more accurate than the saliva kits. If your cycle is really hard to predict, and you have already worked on getting your weight into the healthy range, it will be beneficial to have an earlier appointment with your GP to discuss your next steps.
When should you get help?
younger than 35 years of age we suggest trying to conceive naturally for about twelve months before seeking assistance
older than 35 you may want to book in with a fertility specialist after six months of trying to conceive naturally.
Tests and checks
Before you conceive it is really helpful to know a few more things about your general health. These tests may be requested by your GP at a pre pregnancy appointment:
Blood/urine testing
rubella and chicken pox immunity
full blood count and iron studies for anaemia
vitamin D levels
infection screening
Genetic screening tests
There are different levels of testing available in Australia and some tests that are only available overseas. Your ethnicity may place you at an increased risk for a genetic condition that can be excluded prior to you conceiving. Discuss this with your GP, or do some reading of your own at VCGS or sonicgenetics.
Medical and mental health
Your GP will also chat to you about family history and medical conditions that may impact on pregnancy. This should include a mental health check in as well.
Cervical Screening Test (CST)
Formerly known as a Pap smear. The CST should be performed every 5 years if it is normal. If you are due for a CST in the next 18 months it is a good idea to have it done pre pregnancy.
