Questions to Ask your Doctor Before Conceiving

Usually, when you announce amongst your close friends and family about planning for a child, there is plenty of advice that'll come your way. Start taking your prenatal supplements; quit smoking - as smoking would decrease your chances of getting pregnant; avoid papayas, they prevent you from getting pregnant and a lot of other advice. It can be very annoying at times, and can even put you in a state of confusion. No doubt, there is a lot of care and love wrapped around each advice, however, every advice arises from one's personal experience and it is not necessary that everybody responds to certain things in the same way every time. Nothing can be generalized. Some tips might have worked wonders for your friend, the same might not necessarily work in your favor. Therefore, the best person to guide you with all your confusions before conceiving is your obstetrician/gynecologist.

You can ask your obstetrician/gynecologist the silliest of your doubts before conceiving to ensure a healthy and successful pregnancy. When you see a doctor, you are bound to be a little nervous, as it is your first time and you want to know every little detail about pregnancy. But, at the same time, you don't want to look or sound foolish asking your doctor the silliest of questions. While you are thinking about all this, there is every possibility that you might skip some question. Well, in that case, I have a solution - you either pen down questions you have to ask the doctor or simply refer to this Buzzle article, which provides you with all the pre-pregnancy questions to ask your doctor.

When you see your doctor, there are three things he/she will definitely discuss with you:

1. Firstly, the doctor will ask you about your reproductive history, that is, let the doctor know if there have been instances of miscarriage in the past, irregular menstrual cycle, trying to conceive from a long time or other such problems. This will help the doctor evaluate your health and guide you rightly through your pregnancy phase.
2. The second thing he/she may ask is your medical history and your current medications. Bring in a list of your medications to get advice on whether any of those have to be discontinued or switched to before pregnancy.
3. Finally, the third thing he/she would want to discuss would be about a few of your lifestyle factors and if any alterations are required in the same. Once you're done with this routine, it is your turn to ask questions and get your doubts cleared.

Pre-Pregnancy Questions to Ask your Doctor

Immediate Questions

Q.1	When does one have to stop taking birth control pills? (In case one has been resorting to the same.)
Q.2	How early does one have to start taking prenatal supplements? Is there any need for the same in the first place?
Q.3	Is being on the skinnier side or being obese, increase the risk or complications during pregnancy? Find out from the doctor if your weight is healthy enough to get through the pregnancy and in case it is not, find out how many pounds do you have to lose or gain in the said circumstance.
Q.4	Is age a consideration? Some women plan to conceive at an early age while others plan it reasonably late, find out about the various risks and the precautions to be taken in that case considering your age.
Q.5	Is there any kind of exercise that one has to indulge to maximize chances of conception?

Truths or Myths

Q.1	Unchecked gum diseases are prone to miscarriage and preterm birth. Ask the doctor to throw light on the same subject and get a dental checkup done, in case the statement holds true.
Q.2	Does sleep trigger the chances of one getting pregnant faster?
Q.3	Watching movies in the theater restricts one to sit in the same position for a long time, is that supposed to be unsafe for the mother or the fetus?
Q.4	Does intake of too much caffeine trigger miscarriage chances?
Q.5	Coloring your hair would prove unsafe during pregnancy, as one is exposed to chemicals, is it true?

Lifestyle Alteration Questions

Q.1	Does pregnancy mean one has to give up partying, smoking and drinking?
Q.2	Is there anything particular that one has to avoid with regards to their diet?
Q.3	Is there anything particular that one has to include in their diet?
Q.4	Should one quit their job and relax during pregnancy, as dealing with stress associated with one's job could be difficult?
Q.5	What other lifestyle factors does one have to alter during the pregnancy phase?

Prenatal Care Questions

Q.1	Find out if family history has to do anything with one's pregnancy? (Meaning, if your mother or sister has had a hard time during their respective pregnancies, will that pass on to you as well.)
Q.2	Does one have to go through any genetic tests?
Q.3	Are there any couple tests that both would-be-parents have to go through?
Q.4	What is the routine of a pre-pregnancy checkup?
Q.5	Does one have to get checked for STDs, heart issues or any such chronic conditions?
Q.6	What books does the doctor recommend reading before pregnancy or during the phase?
Q.7	If there is a particular place, organization or prenatal care meetings that the doctor would recommend one to attend?
Q.8	Is there any need for one to undergo pelvic exam, ultrasound and Pap smear before trying to conceive?
Q.9	What remedies do you suggest for normal pregnancy woes?
Q.10	Find out how pregnancy may affect, or be affected by, health problems you have. (That is if one is facing health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, high levels of thyroid, obesity, depression, eating disorders, or asthma; ask a way out to manage these problems during pregnancy.)

The point of this visit and these questions is to get a clear picture of your health and to prepare your body for the pregnancy. By taking actions on health issues and considering all the risks before pregnancy, you can prevent problems and your baby will be delivered as healthy as possible.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only and does not, in any way, intend to replace the advice of a medical expert.