Dr Harshala S
Pre-Pregnancy Counselling Clinic
What is Pre-Pregnancy Counselling ?
Pre-pregnancy counselling clinic refers to educating the couple as well as the entire family about different aspects of pregnancy. Best services that pre-pregnancy counseling includes:
- Best pregnancy timings
- Pregnancy spacing and family planning
- Psychiatric, medical, and surgical histories reviewed
- Current medications reviewed
- Genetic and family history reviewed
- Immunizations
- Screening of any infectious disease
- Assessing individuals with HIV
What happens during pre-pregnancy counselling?
At the Pre-pregnancy counselling clinic visit, the healthcare provider takes a detailed history and makes necessary examinations.
If the patient has not undergone her routine pap smear, then pap smear for cervical cancer screening is also taken at the same visit. Basic blood investigations and any particular test based on the history and examination if required are sent during pre-pregnancy counselling consultation.
Your BMI will be measured and doubts for proper diet and exercise will be addressed during the pre-pregnancy consultation.
Any exercise programme which you have been doing can be continued and may require slight modification once you are pregnant to avoid strain on the tummy.
The medicine which is usually taken is folic acid and should be started at least 1 month prior to conception.
How to prepare for the visit of pre –pregnancy counselling clinic?
Before you and your partner decide to visit a pre-pregnancy counseling clinic session, always make yourself prepared. Follow the things below to prepare yourself:
1. Medical records must be kept in one place
2. Visit to doctor chamber with an open mind
3. Have good communication with your healthcare provider