Pre-pregnancy Check Up

When you plan to conceive soon, it is necessary to perform a pre-pregnancy examination before trying to get pregnant. This will ensure healthy pregnancy and safe birth to your baby. At the Gynaecology Clinic, we provide early pregnancy assessments to confirm readiness of your body for this exciting journey.

Different medical conditions and lifestyle habits might have an impact on the pregnancy and conception capabilities. Our private gynaecologist in London will assist in managing and detecting any health concerns such as – those you might not have noticed, to lessen possible complications for you and your baby during pregnancy and delivery.

When do I need to get tested?

It is important that you wait for at least 11 days post-conception before performing the test to get the desired results. This waiting time is necessary as blood test may not be able to detect the hormone earlier than this time span. When the conception date is tentative, you need to wait till your expected menstrual cycle due date for conducting the test.

What does a pre-pregnancy test involve?

Health and Lifestyle Assessment

Pre-pregnancy counseling may be conducted for one year before you plan to conceive. During the appointment for pregnancy counseling, the doctor discusses various key aspects which include the following:

• Gynecological History:

  This will include your menstrual cycle, history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), Pap smears and contraception method.

• Obstetric History:

  This seems to be relevant when you had already been pregnant earlier.

• Medical Record:

  The doctor gives necessary advice on managing health conditions that may affect your pregnancy. He may even refer you to a specialist when necessary.

• Vaccination Record:

  If it is available, bring your immunization records at the appointment.

• Medications and Allergies:

  You need to prepare a comprehensive list of all the medications you are taking which include dosages.

Stages of Pregnancy:

Beta-hCG or beta human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone which is vital for pregnancy and produced by the placenta after egg implants into the uterus. It can be used to confirm and monitor pregnancy. Early pregnancy tests can help to detect hCG in blood or urine with rising levels denoting pregnancy. Monitoring beta-hCG is necessary for evaluating your health condition during pregnancy.

Pregnancy can be divided into three stages:

1. First Trimester (Weeks 1-12):

   The egg implants in your uterus and there are early signs of pregnancy. The main organs of your baby begin to form. By the end of this trimester, the fetal movement may be felt and the baby’s sex can be determined.

2. Second Trimester (Weeks 13-27):

   The energy of mother increases and nausea generally subsides down. The baby will grow noticeably and the mother might feel quickening movements. There will be certain changes in the pigmentation of your skin.

3. Third Trimester (Weeks 28-Birth):

   The quick growth of baby may cause discomfort to the mother with symptoms such as swollen feet and backache. The baby's movements are more pronounced and they settle down into a birth position.

Routine prenatal check-ups will include blood tests and ultrasounds. They are a vital part throughout the pregnancy in order to monitor the development of the baby and the mother's health. In the case of pregnancy support, consulting a GP is advisable.

Physical and gynaecological examination

The private gynecologist performs several assessments which include the following:

• Physical Examination:

  This includes measuring your weight, blood pressure and height.

• Pap Smear:

  A Pap smear will be conducted to detect the presence for cervical cancer, precancerous changes in your cervix and sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea.

• Abdominal, Breast and Vaginal Examination:

  This can detect any lumps or irregularities affecting pregnancy or childbirth.

• Vaginal Swab:

  If you want to check for infections such as trichomoniasis and yeast infections, then this can cause symptoms like itching, burning, redness and discharge.

• Pelvic Ultrasound Scan:

  This can ensure the health of your genital organs such as – cervix, ovaries and uterus.

Blood Tests

At the Gynaecology Clinic, our gynecologist conducts blood tests to check for:

• Anaemia (Iron Deficiency): It can be treated by taking iron supplements.
• Syphilis
• Immunity to Chickenpox or Rubella
• Underactive Thyroid
• Hepatitis B: When you are at greater risk
• HIV
• Herpes: When your partner has herpes and you have not shown the symptoms.

There are vaccinations available for hepatitis B, rubella, and chickenpox when it is needed. You will receive a phone call with the blood test results and an appointment gets scheduled for a follow-up within two weeks, if necessary.

What to Expect

Related Pages:

EARLY PREGNANCY

WELL WOMAN

RECURRENT MISCARRIAGE TESTING