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Preparing for
Preganancy
Should I take vitamins before I become pregnant, and if so
why?
It is very important to think ahead for a healthy pregnancy.
Taking multi-vitamins prior to pregnancy prepares our body. Often times we do
not get enough vitamins through our diet. Also, supplementation with folic acid
400mcg daily has been demonstrated to decrease the occurrence of brain and
central nervous system birth defects by as much as 80%.
I have been taking birth control pills for a while, how
long after stopping the birth control pills is it likely that I will become
pregnant?
As soon as your regular cycle resumes, you can become
pregnant. This may take up to 3 months. Your body will need to adjust to its
normal function, for example taking birth control pills for a while blocked
messages to the brain regarding ovulation, preventing egg production and
conception. Once you stop taking oral contraceptive pills, your body will need
to get use to directing own hormones needed to help egg follicles to mature in
the ovary, and help thickens the uterus for possible implantation.
What is the optimal schedule for intercourse in order to
become pregnant?
I usually encourage patients to have intercourse on days 10,12,14,16,and 18 of
her menstrual cycle, because healthy sperm lives for about 72 hours. Also, every
woman's cycle is different. Normal menstrual cycle ranges from 21-35 days. The
length of an average menstrual cycle is 28 days, counting from the 1st day of
ones period to the 1st day of the next. Conception can happen when you have
sexual intercourse during or near the time of ovulation, or just after an
ovulation. Once the egg is released, it can be fertilized for up to 24 hours.
How do I know when I'm ovulating?
There are different ways of checking when a woman is ovulating. Using an
ovulation kit from your local pharmacy will help check/ predict ovulation. By
checking vaginal discharge and body temperature we can check for the best time
to try getting pregnant. After a woman ovulates, there is a rise in body
temperature as much as 1-degree farenheit; this can happen suddenly in one day
or slowly over several days. A woman should take her oral temperature every
morning before she gets out of bed. This recording should be done at least for
three months to check if ovulation has occurred and to compare if it does happen
on a regular basis. There is also urine and blood tests that your ob-gyn
provider may order to check if and when ovulation has occurred.
I have been trying to become pregnant and have been unsuccessful. Should I be
concerned?
You should only be concerned if you have tried for over 12 months and nothing
has occurred. If you and your partner are infertile, you should think about
having an infertility consultation/evaluation. At this time your doctor will
find out what is causing the infertility and what can be done to correct it.
Is it important to be checked out by the OB-GYN before I
become pregnant?
Yes, it is important to be checked by the OB-GYN before getting pregnant.
Routine Pap smear and clinical breast exam yearly are very important part of
your OB-GYN care. Most diseases are diagnosed during the woman's annual gyn
exam. By teaching breast self-exam and encouraging patients to them monthly is
excellent way breast cancer awareness. STD screening and STD prevention
counseling is another way major component of annual Gyn exam. An OB-GYN also
encourages patients to have an annual complete physical exam by their family MD/internal
medicine provider.
What are the first signs of being pregnant, and when do they appear?
The physical symptoms, which could indicate that you are pregnant, are primarily
missed menses, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, increase or decrease in
appetite and sensitive to taste and smells. If you think you might be pregnant
you could check with a pregnancy test as early as 2 weeks after last unprotected
intercourse, or by seeing a OB-GYN Nurse Practioner or Doctor.
Aurora Dalisay, R.N., APN-C
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