Pre Pregnancy Couselling FAQs

Pre pregnancy counselling is an interactive series of discussions between the medical experts and the individuals aspiring to be parents, to help understand if it is the right time for conceiving; to help prepare for the physical, emotional, and lifestyle changes that come with pregnancy and parenthood; and to maintain good health conditions so as to avoid or minimize complications during the pregnancy period and after delivery.

Pre pregnancy counselling helps the medical experts to understand in detail about the ones aspiring to be parents and get them ready for the journey of pregnancy and parenthood, by selecting the appropriate strategy based on the individuals’ specific needs and preferences.

Anyone planning to conceive and want to acquire a detailed knowledge of all aspects of pregnancy; Anyone aspiring to be a parent in need of an expert’s guidance to improve their health conditions and avoid any kind of complications during the pregnancy and after delivery. Especially those individuals who have tried multiple times for natural conception and had no luck; and those who have a history of miscarriages or stillbirths; and those with any special health conditions or have been under special circumstances that could affect the reproductive health can benefit from pre pregnancy counselling.

Pre pregnancy counselling sessions cover detailed & personalized discussions about every aspect of your lives that directly or indirectly affect your reproductive health. Some of the details are your diet & nutrition, physical fitness, medication history, sexual health, chronic health conditions, stress & anxiety levels, understanding of pregnancy stages, any known genetic disorders and many other such relative aspects.

It is ideal to start pre pregnancy counselling before conception, but it is beneficial at any stage of pregnancy. Early counselling allows for more time to address health concerns and make lifestyle adjustments.

Yes, mental health is an important aspect of pre pregnancy care. Counsellors can provide support for stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns related to pregnancy and parenting.

Yes. There are several tests conducted during pre pregnancy counselling such as - blood tests, thyroid test, antibodies test, sexually transmitted diseases tests, genetic screening, etc.

Genetic screening is a part of pre pregnancy counselling because it helps the doctors identify any potential genetic health conditions or disorders that could affect the baby’s health during the pregnancy or after delivery.

Birth plan is nothing but a written plan or schedule of your choices during birthing your child and after the delivery. This includes your preference of pain medications during labouring, a list of people that you feel comfortable having around, and even minute details such as the amount and kind of lights or sounds you would like to have during this process. A birth plan is all about you, to make your labour as comfortable as possible.

Relax and let go of all the presumptions or fears that you might have developed while gathering information from the internet or any family members or friends. Just have an open mind to what the experts have to say. Do carry with you - your, your partner’s, and your family members’ medical reports or history, if you have them available.

Can partners participate in pre pregnancy counselling?