Pregnancy becomes an unforgettable turning point in women's lives. While happiness and worry are often intertwined, it is possible for expectant mothers to minimize the difficulties and enjoy a lot by paying attention to some rules in this special process.
Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Dr. Wonderful Bodur Öztürk said, “Pregnancy is actually like a marathon. The more you prepare physically and spiritually for the adventure of motherhood before you start the marathon, the more you can pass this process in a healthy way,” she says. About half of all pregnancies in the world are unplanned and half are planned. So, at the point where you say "I'm ready now", what should you pay attention to for a healthy and peaceful pregnancy? Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Dr. Wonderful Bodur Öztürk talked about 10 precautions that should be taken from the moment you decide to become a mother, and made important warnings and suggestions.
Contact a gynecologist and obstetrician
From the moment you decide to become a mother, make sure to consult your gynecologist. Vaginal examination, pap smear test, evaluation of your uterus and ovaries in vaginal ultrasound are important. Sometimes there may be space-occupying formations such as polyps in the uterus and may need to be removed before becoming pregnant. If there are abnormal findings in the cervical (cervical) smear test, it is very important to complete these treatment processes if treatment is required before pregnancy, of course, with the principle of "maternal health first".
Get rid of your excess weight with a healthy diet
If you are overweight, try to reach your ideal weight with a healthy diet before pregnancy. The closer you get to the ideal weight, the less likely you are to develop gestational diabetes (gestational diabetes) and high blood pressure during pregnancy. Even if the pregnancy started with excess weight, your doctor may recommend that you finish the whole process with 5-6 kilograms by looking at your body mass index. If gestational diabetes develops, the probability of having a large baby, shoulder entrapment at birth, operative delivery and stillbirth unfortunately increases.
start exercising regularly
Regular exercise is important during pregnancy. It is recommended to walk for 3-4 minutes 30/40 days a week. If you start exercising regularly before pregnancy, it will be easier to maintain. However, your doctor may still ask you to reduce or limit physical activity in some medical conditions, such as bleeding or the risk of premature birth.
Find out if you have diabetes or high blood pressure
It is very important to provide "glycemic control" before getting pregnant, especially if there is a diagnosis of diabetes. High blood sugar increases the possibility of miscarriage and congenital anomalies. It is recommended that the HbA3C value, which shows the 1-month average blood sugar, should be below 6.5 percent. If the HbA1C is above 10 percent, the conception plan should be postponed. 3 percent of women of reproductive age have a diagnosis of high blood pressure. Existing drug treatments may need to be changed before becoming pregnant. In pregnant women with high blood pressure, the risk of fetal growth restriction, separation of the placenta before the onset of labor (detachment), pregnancy poisoning (preeclampsia) is also increased.
Avoid alcohol and smoking
If there is alcohol consumption and smoking is used, it is very valuable to quit these habits before pregnancy. Alcohol creates toxic effects, and smoking can cause developmental problems in the womb by affecting the circulatory system. In addition, smoking can have negative effects on ovarian health. Smoking and alcohol consumption also negatively affect the male reproductive system and may impair sperm quality. For this reason, both the mother-to-be and the father-to-be should stay away from smoking and alcohol when they decide to have a baby.
Do not neglect folic acid supplementation
Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Dr. Marvelous Bodur Öztürk “Starting folic acid supplementation, especially two to three months before pregnancy, plays an important role in the prevention of injuries we call 'neural tube defects'. A supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid per day will usually be sufficient. If there is iron deficiency anemia, it is important for the health of the mother and baby to be treated before and during pregnancy. While there may be physiological anemia in pregnant women, iron deficiency anemia is also very common in our country.
Take action against single gene diseases
It can be asked from couples before getting pregnant whether they are carriers of single gene diseases such as SMA. If the man is a carrier, the expectant mother is also evaluated. Since there is a possibility of a sick baby from the union of two carriers, it is recommended that these couples be pregnant with healthy embryo transfer by performing IVF (in vitro fertilization). The Ministry of Health carries out this screening for newly married couples.
Be sure to have your teeth checked
It is very important to complete your dental examination and, if necessary, your dental health treatment before pregnancy. Dental treatments are not preferred in the first trimester (first 13 weeks period) and third trimester (28-40 weeks period) during pregnancy. The use of local anesthesia, the need for antibiotic treatment, apart from making the patients nervous during this period, gingival and dental health problems can also trigger preterm labor during pregnancy.
Get screened for these diseases
Those at risk; sexually transmitted and common bacterial infection disease chlamydia, gonorrhea (gonorrhea), syphilis and HIV can be checked beforehand. Evaluation can be made by culture or PCR from cervix and vaginal secretions. Bacterial infections must be treated before pregnancy.
Get vaccinated if needed
Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Dr. Great Bodur Öztürk “Blood tests should be checked for high blood sugar or thyroid dysfunction. In addition, if there are concomitant problems such as anemia, it will be appropriate to treat them beforehand. It will be recommended to check your immunity against certain infections. Of these, rubella (Rubella) immunity is particularly important. If deemed necessary, you will be advised to be vaccinated before becoming pregnant. If you do not have a tetanus vaccine before pregnancy, I also recommend that you get vaccinated beforehand.
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