Preconceptional counselling Is a broad term applicable to all women who are planning a Pregnancy .
This clinic visit is the most important where the mother is introduced to the concept of antenatal care and assessed for any potential complication.
Prenatal counselling is essential to give optimal outcome to any pregnancy, to correct wrong lifestyle habits, investigations to check and correct deficiencies, add necessary supplementation and plan pregnancy at a desired time.
Promoting good health and nutrition during very early weeks in the embryonic phase of life is as important as during later stages of pregnancy where the role of preconceptional counselling lies.
In your first counselling: We at Aarya Women's Hospital
Almost 25-50% of pregnancies are unplanned. In these cases by the time the pregnant female comes for the first check up, the organ formation of the fetus is already started and chances of neural Tube Defects due to folic acid deficiency cannot be prevented.
In the same way maternal high blood sugar levels can cause congenital defects in the unborn fetus. Deranged thyroid functions may be responsible for early abortions hence baseline health check-up becomes very necessary before planning a pregnancy.