Screening tests, vaccinations need to be done before getting pregnant

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Associate Professor, Doctor, Doctor Nguyen Viet Nhan - Genetic Consultant - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
Pre-pregnancy screening and counseling is an important step towards a healthy pregnancy. Proactive prevention, early detection and handling of risk factors affecting the health of mother and baby before pregnancy is as necessary as periodic antenatal check-ups later. The following article will help you summarize the screening tests and vaccinations that need to be done before becoming pregnant.

1. Why is it important to have pre-pregnancy examination, screening and counseling?

To have a healthy baby, the mother needs to have a healthy body first. Health checks and pre-pregnancy screening tests help prepare mothers to know their health status, promptly treat and prevent the risk of diseases, if any, supplement with nutritional supplements. necessary substances, creating the best conditions for the fetus to develop right from the time of pregnancy.
From the results obtained, doctors can provide timely support, advice on the best pregnancy time, nutrition before and after pregnancy...

2. Pre-pregnancy tests and examinations

2.1 General examination Gynecological examination: Gynecological examination is one of the important examination activities that women should not ignore before becoming pregnant. Gynecological examination helps to detect factors that can affect the ability to conceive or the health of mother and child during pregnancy such as: inflammatory problems, cervical polyps, uterine fibroids.. ..
Dental examination: Many people think that pregnancy has nothing to do with oral health, so dental exams are unnecessary. That is a completely wrong concept. Women during pregnancy and after giving birth often eat a lot of food, eat many meals a day to nourish the body, increase the risk of dental diseases..
Hormonal changes during pregnancy pregnancy will make you more susceptible to gingivitis, morning sickness puts your teeth in contact with acid in the stomach when you vomit ... making teeth vulnerable, changing the way you eat during pregnancy can be make you more susceptible to tooth decay, so not only before pregnancy but also during pregnancy you need to be instructed to maintain oral hygiene to protect your oral health.
Ultrasound of the abdomen, thyroid: An ultrasound of the abdomen is used to check for abnormalities of the abdominal organs such as: liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, especially uterus and ovaries. Ultrasound and thyroid hormone testing help detect abnormalities of the thyroid gland early, a gland whose role is so important not only for the mother's health but also for the development of the central nervous system. of the fetus, especially during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
Electrocardiogram: During pregnancy under the influence of hormonal changes, blood volume, red blood cell count, and heart rate will increase, especially from the second trimester of pregnancy, these changes will be even greater when transitioning. womb. Pregnant women with cardiovascular disease will face the risk of many complications for both mother and baby. Measuring diabetes helps detect potential cardiovascular diseases that can affect the health of mother and baby during pregnancy.
2.2 Get vaccinated before pregnancy

Before becoming pregnant, women should be vaccinated against certain diseases that the fetus is at risk of being affected by the mother's illness, such as: influenza, measles - rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis B, tetanus, HPV... This injection should be completed at least 3 months before planning to become pregnant so that the vaccine has no ability to affect the fetus and the mother's body has time to produce antibodies against the disease.
Rubella, chickenpox can cause birth defects if the mother gets it during pregnancy.
Measles, mumps, flu: can cause premature birth, miscarriage, fetal growth retardation (no malformations)
Hepatitis B, can be transmitted to the baby, before vaccination need to be tested to know if you have been infected Hepatitis B virus not yet, if infected, the vaccination is not effective, the doctor will guide measures to avoid the risk of infection to the baby.
MMR (measles – mumps – rubella) vaccines are live vaccines so they cannot be given during pregnancy and must be given at least 1 to 3 months before pregnancy
2.3 Conduct screening tests Laboratory complete blood count, blood group, serum iron: blood count test shows blood group, blood cell abnormalities, possibility of blood diseases such as anemia, deficiency of red blood cells, white blood cells...
Note:
Screening blood count for hemolytic anemia (thalassemia) is an inherited disease caused by genetic mutations that causes extremely serious consequences, the baby is born with severe anemia and requires a lifelong blood transfusion. Detect anemia, excess or iron deficiency for timely treatment. Blood type, especially Rh negative case, this is a rare case but requires special monitoring and support to avoid maternal condition. produce antibodies against the fetus in subsequent pregnancies, causing miscarriage and stillbirth. Blood biochemistry tests: Some blood chemistry tests help to evaluate liver function, kidney function, blood sugar status etc. to properly assess your health condition and help monitor your health progress throughout pregnancy process.
Tests to detect infection with some viruses, bacteria, parasites: infection with certain bacteria, viruses, and parasites during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. Depending on the facts, the consultant will recommend you to do tests to assess your immune status to some viruses and bacteria that can cause serious birth defects such as Toxoplasmosis, Cytomegalo virus, Rubella virus, syphilis bacteria etc...
Urine test : urine test results help you know if you have inflammatory diseases, thanks to factors present in urine such as: bacteria bacteria, glucose, protein, white blood cells, red blood cells...
Urine test is a simple measure to have an overall view of your health through indicators such as red blood cells, white blood cells, protein, glucose etc., especially urinary tract infections. In addition to urine tests, blood tests are still needed to assess health status more accurately.

3. Pre-pregnancy health care and counseling program at Vinmec

To have a perfect pregnancy, let the baby be taken care of right from the fetal stage. Counseling and health checks for pregnancy preparation are very important and necessary.
In Vietnam, for many reasons, most expectant parents only care about the health of mother and baby after pregnancy, while the preparation and health check before pregnancy is much more important. a lot of .
In order to minimize the possible risks during pregnancy for both mother and baby, bring joy and reduce unnecessary anxiety for each family, National General Hospital System Vinmec hospitals nationwide, first in Vinmec, Time City will implement the Pre-pregnancy health care and counseling program with the following services:
Pre-pregnancy genetic counseling Screening to detect healthy people carriers of disease genes Preparing for assisted reproductive services Pharmaceutical use and pregnancy Vaccinations Vaccinations Oral Vitamins and Folic Acid (vitamin B9) Food use and pregnancy Prevention of exposure to toxic chemicals, harmful effects dangerous physical character Other health problems for you and your husband (wife) Health checkup for couples who are planning a pregnancy, for parents who have been pregnant or had a baby with birth defects Congenital or problems related to chronic diseases, obstetrics and gynecological diseases ... are very important and necessary to minimize the risks. may occur in the next pregnancy.

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