What you need to know about giving up birth control

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The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Lai Thi Nguyet Hang - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital.
You have decided to become a parent. Give yourself the best chance for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Therefore, there are some important things you need to do before you start getting pregnant, the most important of which are the things you need to know about giving up birth control. In this article, we will provide you with useful information to clarify these things.

1. What to do before getting pregnant?

1.1. Schedule regular visits

Your doctor will review your personal and family medical history, your current health, and any medications or supplements you're taking. Some medications and supplements are not safe during pregnancy, and some may need to be stopped before you conceive.
Your doctor will likely discuss your diet, weight, exercise, and any unhealthy habits you may have (such as smoking, drinking, and taking drugs) ; check your immunity to diseases like chickenpox and rubella. In addition, you may be referred to a specialist if you have certain medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes or high blood pressure that need to be controlled before becoming pregnant.
You may also have a pelvic exam and cervical cytology and STD testing if you are at risk.

1.2. Genetic screening

Your doctor will give you information about genetic diseases before you start trying to conceive to see if you or your husband are carriers of serious genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis, rosacea, and rosacea. sickle cell disease and other diseases or not. If both you and your husband are carriers, your child has a one in four chance of getting the disease.

1.3. Folic Acid and Vitamin A Supplement

Folic acid supplementation is very important. By taking 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily for at least a month before you conceive.

1.4. Give up alcohol, tobacco and drugs

If you smoke or take drugs, now is the time to stop. Many studies have shown that smoking or taking drugs can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight babies.

1.5. Use healthy foods

You should start making nutritious food choices now so your body is stocked with the nutrients it needs for a healthy pregnancy.

1.6. Check your caffeine intake

The March of Dimes advises pregnant women to limit caffeine consumption to 200 milligrams per day, about the amount in a cup of coffee, depending on how it's brewed.

1.7. Correct weight adjustment

Adjusting to the right weight now can also help you have a smooth pregnancy. Women with a high BMI were more likely to have complications during pregnancy or delivery, while women who started with a low BMI and didn't gain enough weight were more likely to have a low-birth-weight baby.

1.8. Pay attention to the type of fish you are eating

If you're a fish lover, start tracking your intake. Although fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids (important for baby's brain and eye development), protein, vitamin D and other nutrients, it also contains mercury, which can may cause harm. The FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend that pregnant women eat herring, salmon, and sardines.

1.9. Create an exercise routine

Get started and stick to your fitness plan now, and you'll be rewarded with a healthy pregnancy fit body.

1.10. Dental health care

When preparing for pregnancy, don't forget about your oral health. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make you more susceptible to gum disease. Higher levels of progesterone and estrogen can cause gums to react differently to the bacteria in plaque, leading to swollen, red, tender, and bleeding gums when you floss or brush.

1.11. Get ready financially

When planning to become pregnant, make sure you are financially prepared. You will have to spend a lot of money for medical check-ups, genetic screening, essential tools for birth, diapers, milk ..... You are lucky if you have health insurance, it will help somewhat reduce costs for medical examination and check-up during pregnancy. If you don't have one, try to buy yourself health insurance, it's like a self-defense tool for you.

1.12. Consider mental health.

Alice Domar, director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health at Boston IVF, says women with depression are twice as likely to have problems with fertility as women without depression. Domar suggests that all women, especially those with a personal or family history of depression, get a mental health check before becoming pregnant.

1.13. Avoid infection

It's important to stay away from infections when you're trying to get pregnant, especially those that could harm your unborn baby. Finally, make sure you get your flu shot to avoid catching the flu during pregnancy. Getting the flu during pregnancy can lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia and premature birth.

1.14. Reduce environmental risks

You may not be able to completely eliminate all environmental hazards, but you can do your best to keep as many of them out of your life as possible. For example, some jobs can be dangerous for you and your unborn baby. If you're regularly exposed to chemicals or radiation, you'll need to make some changes before you conceive.

1.15. Think carefully about your decision

Having a child is a lifelong commitment. Before trying to conceive, consider whether you're ready to take on this responsibility. Some questions are:
Can you balance work and family? Would you be willing to parent a child with special needs if you had one? If you have a partner, are you both equally willing to be parents?

1.16. Find out the signs when you ovulate

Some women simply stop using birth control when they are ready to get pregnant and let fate decide when they will conceive. Others take a more calculated approach by charting their periods and tracking symptoms to try to determine their fertile days (ovulation days) each month.

1.17. Stop using birth control

For many women, fertility returns as soon as they stop using these methods, but some can take a month or longer to start ovulating again. You'll know ovulation is back to normal when you have regular periods.

2. What you need to know about giving up birth control

2.1. Barrier methods

Barrier methods, such as: male condoms, female condoms, diaphragms and cervical caps, don't affect your fertility - so if you're using one of these methods this method and you want to start trying to get pregnant, just stop using it. And don't worry: Spermicide used with barrier methods cannot harm a pregnancy. Even if you accidentally conceive while using spermicide, it won't hurt your baby.

2.2. Natural birth control

Natural birth control is defined as having sex on “safe days” far from ovulation. When you want to get pregnant, the simplest thing is to stop doing it. If you have regular menstrual cycles, the information you gather from charting your menstrual cycle can help you estimate when you're most likely to conceive. And if you're familiar with the changes in your cervical mucus during your fertile period, you'll have a useful tool for determining when you're about to ovulate and have productive sex.

2.3. Birth control pills, patches and vaginal domes

The only thing you can do to make the Pills and patches work is to stop using them. You don't even have to wait until the end of your monthly cycle to stop. In some cases, you'll most likely get your period within a few days of stopping using these remedies.
For many women, fertility returns as soon as they stop using these methods, but some can take a month or so to start ovulating again. You'll know ovulation is back to normal if you have regular periods.
The progestin-only mini pill contains a very low dose of synthetic progesterone, which is rapidly eliminated from your body. The contraceptive effect does not last more than 24 hours after your last pill.
The progestin implant (Implanon) is a flexible plastic stick the size of a matchstick that is placed under the skin of the arm. Its contraceptive effect ends when it is removed.
Once an IUD is removed from your body, it is completely possible to get pregnant immediately. Usually, it won't affect your fertility unless it causes an infection.

2.4. Sterilization.

Surgical sterilization techniques such as tubal ligation and vasectomy are considered permanent birth control methods and are intended for those who are certain that they will not want to become pregnant or father a child in the future. But a person sometimes changes their mind about wanting to have children again.
Here's what you need to know if you or your husband are hoping to have children again after sterilization. In either case, recanalization of the fallopian tubes or vas deferens is expensive and complicated, has no guarantee of success, and is unlikely to be covered by insurance.
Your chance of getting pregnant after tubal ligation ranges from 31 to 88%, depending on how it is done and you will have a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy if you conceive. If sterilization damages multiple fallopian tubes, recanalization may not be possible.
Tubal recanalization is considered major surgery and requires hospitalization. An alternative for women who have had a tubal ligation is to use assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization, to try to get pregnant, but it is expensive and has a high success rate. is not 100%.
Male sterilization, or vasectomy, is also hard to change. Between 30 and 75% of men with a vasectomy go on to have a successful pregnancy. Many factors are involved, but the longer it's been since surgery, the less likely it is to have a successful vasectomy.
If the attempt to change again is unsuccessful, you can take the sperm out and try in vitro fertilization., however, it is also quite expensive and the success rate is not 100%.
In order to help couples plan pregnancy and ensure a safe pregnancy and healthy baby, Vinmec International General Hospital has implemented a Pre-pregnancy Care and Counseling Program with The team of experts directly examines and advises, offers pregnancy preparation plans suitable for each specific case, thereby achieving the set expectations.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: babycenter.com