The health of the child is one of the main concerns of every mother. And you should think about it before the baby is born. About 10% of newborns in Ukraine suffer from congenital malformations. It is the leading cause of disability and death in children under one year of age.
What exactly should you do?
First, get tested. In order not to present an unexpected surprise to your wife or husband during the diagnosis process, tell each other about all the diseases you have encountered. The main task of pre-conception examinations is to correct the existing health disorders of the spouses.
A woman undergoes a gynecological examination, a smear for flora, a PAP test , an ultrasound of the pelvic organs. Without fail, the gynecologist prescribes general clinical tests: a blood test (general, biochemistry, glucose, coagulogram , to determine the group and Rh factor). In addition, you should undergo infectious screening (hepatitis B and C, sexually transmitted infections, HIV) , tests for sex hormones and thyroid hormones. According to the indications, clarifying diagnostic tests and consultations of narrow-profile specialists can be prescribed : mammologist , endocrinologist, cardiologist, etc.
The future dad is also obliged to undergo examinations, even if he considers himself to be completely healthy. A man is recommended to have a blood test for a group, Rh factor and infections, to consult a urologist-andrologist . If there are such risk factors as previous diseases of the genital area, work in harmful conditions, etc. in the anamnesis, then it makes sense to take a spermogram .
All of the above diagnostic tests can be passed in the MC " Reverence " . They are intended for conventionally healthy women and men. If you suffer from any chronic diseases, then additional research is needed, depending on the pathology.
Remember that it is better to get diagnosed four to six months before conception, because if problems are found, medical treatment may be required.
Second step: give up alcohol . According to statistics, about 5% of pregnant women consume alcohol in significant quantities. It is with his prenatal influence, for the most part, that the child's mental development disorders are associated . Also, alcoholic influence explains such a phenomenon as fetal alcohol syndrome. In half of cases, mothers abandon children with this syndrome, and 8% of babies die in infancy.
Third step. K As soon as you have decided on the replenishment of the family, start two - three months before conception to take folic acid (vitamin B 9 ). It is necessary to stimulate the formation of nucleic acids and hematopoiesis, the reconstruction of muscle tissue, the formation of blood vessels of the placenta, the anlage and development of the nervous tissue of the embryo.
In the early stages of pregnancy , the body's reserves of folate , a derivative of folic acid, are drastically reduced. This is due to the fact that there is increased germ cell division , and nerve tissue - in particular. Lack of folic acid can seriously affect fetal development and cause neural tube defects, cerebral hernias, hydrocephalus, and anencephaly.
There are a number of reasons for folate deficiency . For example, chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract; congenital disorders of the folate cycle, when folic acid does not convert to folate . Certain medications can also lead to vitamin B 9 deficiency . These include: barbiturates, oral contraceptives , sulfonamides.
You should know that folic acid is useful not only for the future mom, but also for the dad. Folate , zinc, vitamins C and E are important for healthy spermatogenesis. The recommended daily intake is 400 micrograms and 1 mg for diabetes and epilepsy. The decision to increase the dosage of the drug is made by the doctor.
In addition to the above, there are other risk factors for birth defects, for example, radiation, poor ecology, chemicals, drugs. And it is absolutely impossible to insure against everything. But you can do everything in your power so that the child brings joy, and not a test.
