Has anyone had a preconception checkup?

[emmiegirl]

Hi,

I've got two of the "what to expect" books and they say that you should have a preconception checkup. I was just wondering if anyone had done this.

The reason why I am asking is because I am not impressed with my surgery and I was interested to know if there were alternative options. My surgery requires you to ring on the day for appointments (you can't pre book with a GP) and you have no more than 10 mins. I've been 3 times recently because my cycle is so messed up this month, and although each time I have said we are TTC, they have never followed up the conversation other than asking if I am taking folic acid.

We do have private health care but I think you have to be referred by the GP and its only really for complicated pregnancies.

Hi emmie, I had a preconception check-up, and it was very basic. If you are reading the books, you will already know everything that they would want to discuss with you (smoking, drinking, folic acid, etc). The only helpful thing from mine was that the doctor advised me to switch from my multivitamin which included folic acid to a pregnancy-specific vitamin, as the multivitamin also had vitamin A in it.

I guess it would depend on your individual situation, but if you don't have a medical condition that would be an issue if you fell pregnant, then I would say not to worry too much about a preconception check-up. My doctor seemed a bit amused that I thought a preconception check-up was necessary!

oh! well I won't make a fuss just yet then that they aren't interested in me :-) I don't have any medical conditions other than to lose 2 stone to have a healthy BMI.

I've been taking folic acid but today I brought the Boots Mum to Be Plus tablets today but they don't have vitamin A in.

I've been advised to because of medical issues and, er, don't dare go there. Too scared that I'll be told that I'm not safe to TTC.

i had one before we started trying to concieve dc2 because of medical issues and as a result, it has helped speed along our infertilty tests.

If you feel unwell or worried about anything you could ask for a full blood count and basic health check up tests like smear, breast screening etc. but otherwise you are doing the right thing with your vitamins.

Good luck with ttc

I went and asked for a chlamydia test before I started TTC. They also tested my rubella immunity.

I had a preconception check and it was a good thing too because apparently I had lost my immunity to rubella. Had to have a jab and then couldn't try for the next month. But other than that it was a quick 'take you vitamins' etc...