What to Ask a Doctor Before Pregnancy? (10 Important Questions)

Ideally, you should start thinking about your baby’s health before getting pregnant. To meet this need, you should consult a doctor before you get pregnant, but what to ask a doctor before pregnancy? Are there any important questions that should be asked before conception?

The short answer to the above questions is yes. A preconception check-up is needed about 3 months before trying for a baby. In this article on Hipregnancy, we will cover what you need to ask a doctor before pregnancy and help you to have a healthier baby.

Keep reading to the end to determine the answer to top questions that every moms-to-be need to know.

Why is it important to have a pre-pregnancy check-up?

The decision to have a baby is one of life’s biggest and most important decisions.

Booking an appointment to consult a doctor or health care provider should be your priority before pregnancy and conception. Remember that; it is better to bring your partner to an appointment, which helps the doctor support you better to have a healthy pregnancy.

Although it is essential to know what to ask a doctor before pregnancy, it is good to know why you must consult a doctor before getting pregnant. Here are the top reasons for having a pre-pregnancy check-up;

Also Read: Folic Acid Foods Before Pregnancy

1- A pre-pregnancy check-up is the best opportunity to help you become familiar with your health issues and minimize their risks. Also, it can help you to boost your overall well-being and prepare to have a baby. Some tests should be done before pregnancy, such as; 

• A pelvic, breast, and abdominal exam
• A weight check
• A blood test to check vitamin D levels, hemoglobin count, and RH factor
• cervical screening test or pap smear
• A urine test

Also Read: pre pregnancy test

2- Your doctor needs to know about your family and genealogical history.  Because of that, you need to know whether there is a history of birth defects in your family. Your GP should be informed of the following issues in order to help you in reducing the risk of pregnancy-related problems;

• Abnormal pap smears
• Irregular periods
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Cervical surgery
• Recurrent miscarriages
• Gestational diabetes (Read more on the list of foods to eat with gestational diabetes)
• Preterm labor
• Last but not least, preeclampsia

3- Your health conditions and medications should be managed. Your GP should be aware of your health conditions, such as clotting disorders, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, hypo/hyperthyroidism, depression, etc., as well as their treatment plan, because some may require to be changed before conception.

4- A healthy pregnancy requires a healthy lifestyle, exercise, eating nutrient-dense foods, etc. So, it is important to consult a doctor about your diet and lifestyle before getting pregnant to improve your body’s ability to get pregnant and carry a baby. Recommend you read the article nutrition before pregnancy.

What to ask a doctor before pregnancy? (10 questions to ask a doctor before getting pregnant)

Now, you know that it is vital to have an appointment with a doctor or health care provider before getting pregnant, but do you know what to ask a doctor before pregnancy?

If not, take a look at the following questions to ask before getting pregnant. These questions are about important topics that every mom-to-be needs to know. You can keep in mind these questions or make a list of them. Here are 10 questions to consider asking an OB-GYN;

1- How long will it likely take me to get pregnant?

The chance of getting pregnant is different among ladies. For example, some women try several times to get pregnant and have regular unprotected sex, but they won’t conceive after several years. In contrast, Some ones get pregnant very soon, even after the first try for a baby.

So, doctors can’t tell you the exact time of getting pregnant, but they can predict the time based on factors such as, health history, age, and past conception experience.

2- When should I stop using birth control?

Some ladies think they can get pregnant right after stopping birth control, and there is someone who thinks it will take a while to get pregnant after stopping that. In some people, hormonal birth control pills can change your cycle for several months after stopping them, but others may get pregnant right after avoiding oral and barrier contraceptives.

Talk to your doctor about the best time to stop using birth control or removing other forms such as implants or IUDs.

3- Should I take prenatal vitamins or supplements?

Strictly, yes.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), ladies should take a prenatal vitamin containing at least 400 mcg of folic acid a month before pregnancy, and continue taking it untill at least 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The reason behind this recommendation is that folic acid can reduce the risk of health issues in the brain and spine, known as neural tube defects. Your doctor can tell you the exact amount of prenatal vitamins and supplements you should take based on your need.

4- How can I increase my chances of getting pregnant?

Many ladies go to the doctor with this question on their mind because most of them are worried about their fertility and think their age may impact their ability to get pregnant. Although it is an important factor, doctors give you pieces of advice about having sex at the best time during the menstrual cycle.

Even if you don’t get pregnant naturally within a year, they support you and provide fertility treatments. So, don’t worry; ask your doctor to help you, and follow his/her guidelines to maximize your chances of having a baby.

5- Do I need any vaccinations?

It is one of the top questions that should be on your list of what to ask a doctor before pregnancy. You know that if you get sick while pregnant, your health and the baby you are carrying will be at risk. Therefore, you should get vaccinated before getting pregnant to protect your future baby.

Some kinds of vaccine like, mumps, measles, rubella, and chickenpox should be taken before conceiving due to their harmful effects on pregnant ladies. Also, pregnant women should get the covid vaccine before pregnancy to boost their immunity against COVID-19.

6- Should I undergo fertility tests?

Hormones, uterus, fallopian tubes, genetic, and sperm tests are 5 basics test for fertility check-ups. If you undergo these tests, you will find out whether you have fertility problems; this will help you before trying for a baby.

It is important to say that, in some countries, you must meet certain criteria to undergo these fertility tests. For example, those older than 35 years old and don’t conceive within a year or older than 40 and don’t conceive within half a year can have infertility evaluation.

7- How will my gynecological issues affect my pregnancy?

Your doctor should know all the health issues you have, especially gynecological issues. You need to consult your doctor if you have a history of fibroid, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, or previous pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm labor, etc. An OB-GYN tells you how these conditions impact your ability to conceive and get pregnant.

8- How will my health conditions and medications alter during pregnancy?

Pregnancy may impact symptoms and treatments of your physical or mental health issues such as anxiety, high blood pressure, or diabetes. So, it is recommended to discuss all your health conditions and medications with your doctor to provide better guidance about taking medications. Your doctor should be aware of what you take, including prescriptions or over-the-counter treatments.

9- Should I change my lifestyle, diet, and exercise routines?

You must be as healthy as possible before conception, during pregnancy, and even after that to have a healthier baby. Therefore, you need to have a healthy, balanced diet, such as Weston A Price pregnancy diet, exercise enough and stop your bad habits like, drinking alcohol or smoking.

Be aware that excessive exercising and being overweight or underweight can be the main cause of pregnancy complications and put you and your baby at risk. Tell your doctors about your lifestyle and habits, and make changes if needed.

10- Do I need to worry about anemia?

Mild anemia is common among pregnant ladies because their blood volume increases during pregnancy. But the important point is that you need to increase your blood iron levels.

Here, your healthcare provider helps you meet your need by eating iron-rich foods like spinach or in severe cases, taking iron supplements. Let your doctor know whether you had an experience of anemia during your previous pregnancy.

Conclusion

You can’t control all the things related to pregnancy. Still, you can do your best to figure out important information about pregnancy and prepare yourself for carrying a baby.

You can consult a doctor before trying a baby and make a list of what to ask a doctor before pregnancy to improve your knowledge about getting pregnant.

In this article, we discussed top questions you need to ask before getting pregnant, but what else to expect at the preconception appointment? Do you have any ideas or previous experience about that? Comment on your pre pregnancy questions.