Pre-pregnancy care

Abstract

Family planning nurses are in an ideal position to help women to avoid unnecessary risks during childbearing. It is common sense if a pregnancy is planned that both parents should be in the best of health and avoid substances that are likely to damage the fetus such as alcohol, certain drugs, smoking and a polluted environment. A few couples have existing risks which cannot be removed although they may be modified by having expert opinion and supervision before embarking on a pregnancy. When clients first attend the family planning clinic a full history is obtained, and from this various risks for future healthy childbearing may emerge. It is helpful in these cases to inform the woman even at this stage that when she contemplates having a family it would be wise to see her doctor or an appropriate specialist six months or more beforehand for advice and assessment.