Family planning is an important part of your health care, regardless of how many children you wish to have.
If you are not looking to conceive, your local gynaecologist and obstetrician can help you with appropriate contraception or relevant medical procedures if necessary.
If you are looking to conceive, consulting your doctor can help you prepare for the most successful pregnancy.
Why You Should See an Obstetrician
An obstetrician is a doctor who specialises in delivering babies and providing medical care during pregnancy and after the birth.
They have the qualifications and skills to manage complex and high risk pregnancies, as well as being able to perform interventions or perform a c-section.
Seeing a qualified specialist can help you best prepare for a healthy pregnancy.
What Happens at A Preconception Check Up
If you are looking to start trying to have a baby, then it is important to have a preconception check up to make sure that you are healthy, and ready to conceive.
Your doctor may offer you general advice about lifestyle changes that can help improve your chance of a successful pregnancy, and conceiving a healthy baby. This could include lifestyle factors such as your weight, your alcohol consumption, drug use or smoking and other things.
Your gynaecologist may suggest some supplements you can take before and during pregnancy, as well as give you information about health services and pregnancy care.
The check up or follow up appointments can assess the following things;
- Assessment of yours and your partners medical history and a general examination
- Tests for STIs
- Blood tests
- Review of prescription medication either parent is taking
A preconception check up can help you be proactive in your family planning journey.
If you have existing medical conditions
If you have a family history of genetic issues, or a pre-existing medical condition then your family planning clinic can help refer you to a specialist.
This can help ensure that you have the best chance of a healthy baby.
If you have conditions that affect your fertility such as PCOS or endometriosis, your gynaecologist can help you with treatments and alternative options for your pregnancy journey.
Assessing Fertility
If you are struggling with conceiving a baby, then it might be wise to get a fertility assessment. If you are under the age of 35 it is recommended after 1 year of trying, and if you are over the age of 35 it is recommended after 6 months of trying.
Fertility is an important part of both mens and womens health, so if you are trying to conceive it is important that both partners are present.
Your gynaecologist and obstetrician can help assess the cause of your infertility, and offer you a treatment or solution.
Whether high or low risk, each woman and pregnancy is unique. Dr Kelvin Larwood provides individualised care, information and knowledge to help you make good decisions and provide the best opportunity for a safe pregnancy and birth.
Dr Larwood provides continuity of care from your first appointment, to the birth of your baby and postnatally.
If you want to start your family planning, then contact Dr. Larwood’s private clinics in Buderim and Noosa, Sunshine Coast.