About three months before you try to fall pregnant:
- Stop taking the Pill - use another method of contraception.
- Make sure that you have had all the necessary vaccinations - particularly against rubella.
- Start with a balanced intake of multi-vitamins, which
should contain 0.4mg folic acid.
- When you consult your clinic or doctor, mention that you
are planning a pregnancy, particularly if you are no a
medication for a chronic disease e.g. diabetes, epilepsy or
heart disease
- Seek genetic counseling if:
- you are in your late thirties;
- you have had two or more miscarriages;
- you have given birth to a child with a congenital or
hereditary disorder;
- there is any history of a hereditary / genetic
disease in your or your partner's family - irrespective
of how long ago
- you and your partner are related.
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When you are trying to fall pregnant:
Since the confirmation of pregnancy in usually obtained only
after you are already two or more weeks pregnant, you ought to
avoid the following risk factors now:
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Unprescribed medicines (inform your sister of doctor
that you wish to fall pregnant)
- Contact with anyone suffering from an infectious
disease, especially rubella
- Abdominal X-rays
- Regular contact with anaesthetic gases
- Excessive heat, e.g. saunas and very hot baths
- Uninspected, undercooked meat
-
Cat litter
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When you are pregnant
- Visit your antenatal clinic or doctor regularly.
- If there is any person with a birth defect, or mental,
vision or hearing impairment in your or your partner's
family, ask your clinic sister or doctors to refer you to
your nearest genetic counselling clinic.
- Get sufficient rest and light exercise.
- Follow a balanced, vitamin-rich diet.
- Obtain information on breastfeeding.
- Contact your clinic or doctor immediately if you
experience bleeding from the vagina, severe, persistent
nausea, vomiting or headaches, swelling of the feet or legs,
excessive or sudden weight gain, abdominal pains, a marked
decrease in urine or a sudden, strong flow of water from the
vagina.
- Ask your clinic sister or doctor to inform you about
- screening tests on pregnant women and
- a sonar examination to detect certain abnormalities
in the unborn baby
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After the birth of your baby
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