The secret to safe pregnancy and healthy birth

Before deciding to have a baby, learn about the history of the illness of your family and yourself, because maybe you are carrying a serious genetic disease. With these diseases, once conceived, it is no longer preventable.

Which women need care before conception?

All women of reproductive age, especially those with diabetes, urethritis (phenylketonuria), some infections or genetics. Natural miscarriages can occur in about 25% of pregnancies in people with these diseases.

Why is understanding of fetal development important?

Because it keeps you from falling into too late. When you find yourself slowing down, the sperm has fertilized the egg (usually 17 days) and a germ is growing very fast in you. The cells of that germ are differentiating to form the heart and many other organs. In fact, the majority of fetal organ formation takes place in the first 3 months after fertilization. The fetal heart begins to beat after week 4. The 8th week of the fetus can recognize the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, fingers and thumb of the fetus. And by about the 12th week, most important bodies were formed. It is in the early stages of the formation of these organs that the fetus is very vulnerable to drugs, viruses, chemicals and many other agents, leading to disability.

What is the meaning of understanding the family history and self?

You or your husband may be a carrier of a serious genetic disease. In that case, you will be advised to reduce the risk of transmission to your child. Once conceived, it is no longer preventable. Physicians also need to know your birth history (for those who have been pregnant), for example, the number of strikes, premature births, conception difficulties or obstetrics and gynecological problems to take precautions. for later pregnancy. Based on examination and birth history data, physicians will help you have more chances to have a healthier baby.

Is genetic counseling and detection of gene-related abnormalities really necessary?

Improving population quality is a matter of concern in developed countries so this work is also very attentive . This is an approach that is biologically superior, meaning that the quality of the race is improved. of future generations, both physically and mentally. If a physician suspects you have a certain genetic disease, many genetic surveys will be conducted for you; and if you are pregnant, give the whole pregnancy (thanks to testing for amniotic fluid and vegetable spines). Currently there are more than 1,500 genetic diseases. Many serious diseases of race-related genes.

In addition to genetic diseases, what precautions should be taken?

Type 1 diabetes (depending on insulin) needs to be detected before pregnancy. If good control of blood sugar during pregnancy can reduce the risk of birth defects and avoid complications for the mother.

There are many diseases that make pregnancy a risk for her. For example, rubella and hepatitis B can affect the fetus, so it is necessary to create immunity (vaccination) to prevent these two diseases from becoming pregnant. If you get sick in the early stages of pregnancy, rubella can damage the fetal eyes, ears and heart. Hepatitis B is often transmitted through sexual contact, can also be transmitted from mother to fetus and the newborn can become a carrier and have serious effects on liver function.

Physicians can make many other tests to prevent pregnancy risks when you realize you are at risk for infection. For example, if you often keep cats and often come into contact with raw meat, toxoplasmosis should be detected . Some sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV / AIDS .) need to be regulated. treatment before pregnancy.

How does diet and medicine work to prevent adverse effects on the fetus?

As soon as you plan to become pregnant, your doctor needs to tell you the harmful effects of some common medications. For example, Accutne acne medication should not be used because it may increase the risk of birth defects; Or taking too many vitamins A, B6, C, D, E, K, iron, zinc, selenium . can be harmful for pregnancy.

Daily supplementation of folic acid is the best way to protect the nervous system for your intended child, reducing the risk of a fetus with spinal deformities, especially when used early in pregnancy and with women with a history of childbirth with a neural tube defect. Physicians will also recommend the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and other addictive things on the fetus - these are the most common and most easily avoided harmful agents. These can cause premature birth, low birth weight, mental retardation, facial deformities and many other malformations.

In short, taking care right from conception is not only counseling but also a positive preventive intervention. In some cases, it is too late to go to a pregnancy management unit when pregnant.

Dr. Dao Xuan Dung, Health & Life