Green light finally - Anyone have a pre-conception doctors visit?

Hi everyone,

I'm new here but very excited!

My hubby and I just "gave" ourselves the green light to start TTC. I had been holding off as I'm in the final stretch of my PhD which isn't really a good time to plan to have a baby. However I have realized over the last month (okay more like 3-4 months) that there will never be a "good" time given my chosen career, I am planning to submit in August 2013 and most of my lab work is done so I will be mainly writing (which can be done from home if needed) and I don't want to put my career before my family life. Financially we are in a "good" place as well, We just bought a house and we could sustain ourselves on just DH's salary if needed. But I also have a special savings account which contains about 2 years salary (on my current pay rate) in case we needed that. My schedule is also quite flexible at the moment and after I submit my thesis there is likely to be a gap until I find a job, and I will have lots of writing/papers to do if needed.

DH has been anxious to get the ball rolling as he is abit older than me, also we did have a false alarm last year and I think it made him realize how much he wanted it to happen!

That over with - I bought myself a basal thermometer, a saliva ovulation tester and many HPTs. Now to "learn" how to make babies! And we are going to have fun trying/practicing :ROFL:

I went off my BCP in early Nov (went on it in June this year) and am "waiting" for AF to arrive... might be a long wait from what I hear! I also started taking pre-natal vitamins :)

Did anyone else have a pre-conception doctors visit? My book says to but I'm not really sure how useful it would be and it might just make me upset if anyone brings up my weight which I am working on getting down (have so far lost 22 kg, I'm about a size 18-16 now... hoping to get to about a 14-12). I had a really bad doctors visit in June this year when I went on BCP, she was very rude and told me that essentially I wouldn't be "able" to lose weight without help etc. I'm aware of it and hubby and I are both working on it. We have totally changed our diets and are working on improving our lifestyles. Need to find a new doctor!

Phew - long post hope nobody got bored! now off to :ttc:

I didn't have a pre-conception visit. I just wanted to say congratulations on beginning your TTC journey! I hope it is short for you.

I think I went to see my GP for something else originally and mentioned that we were considering ttc for ds1 and he sent me off for some blood tests to check immunity levels to some things (cant remember exactly what ones). However I know I didn't make a specific preconception visit. (I was lucky in that I had a good relationship with my GP - currently in the process of swapping practices for a closer one)

yay!! what an exciting time! =) Wishing you all the best and lost of baby dust =)

I did. It was great. My doc went through my history, family history and ordered blood tests. So I knew about my immunity to every disease of concern. She offered whooping cough vaccine. Tested vitamin d, b12, iron and other stuff too. Pap smear was up to date, but she checked on that stuff too

It's also worthwhile to see your dentist, get up to date, talk about major work that you've been putting off or could need doing.

Definitely a good idea, so now is the time to find yourself a good GP. Also good to make sure all your other checks are up to date: dental, eyes, etc. Rule out insulin / thyroid problems etc. Have a thorough check over :)

We saw the GP 3 months before we started TTC. She ordered blood tests to check my immunity to things like rubella (because there's something like a 3 month wait to TTC if you need to have a vaccination). She also recommended starting elevit (or similar) at that point (ie 3 months before TTC).

We will be going to a consultant appointment at a hospital before we TTC. We are classed as high risk due to pre eclampsia. And they think that there's a 60 percent chance of it happening that bad again. So I will be monitored early, and started on medications to try prevent it. But yes, we will be going to have pre conception counselling.

We have also been told to start on folate, and iron quite a way before TTC. I'm going for a blood test for rubella too seeing as it was borderline last time they checked it.

Thanks for the advice everyone :) I will book in an appointment for after the holiday season.

We aren't going to hold off ttc, but just see what happens :)

As others have mentioned it's a good idea to see your GP for a check up.

I did and mine ordered blood tests etc, found out I have no immunity for rubella, despite having the MMR vacc. I got the vacc and am now up to date (had to wait 1 month before TTC to vaccine to take effect).

Come join us in the TTC 1-6 months thread if you like, all the girls are lovely!

I had a pre-pregnancy check up, to get a full blood screen and to see whether all my immunisations were up to date, so I could get them all done before possibly being pregnant.

Particularly rubella.

Also checking things like your vitamin D etc which may not come up with normal tests.

Getting your pap smear done (even if it's only been a year) is also a good idea, so you're not possibly needing it while pg.

Good luck :)



PS: you're super young to have almost finished your PhD! Well done!

@peanutter: Thanks - I have about 6-9 months to go with the PhD but "most" of it from here on is writing. I have largely finished my lab work (or will have come Late January). I am just hoping that my supervisor does allow me to finish on time (i.e. when I want) and doesn't deliberately drag it out. A baby/pregnancy would be a good motivator for him as well as myself :)

My Vitamin D is likely low - has been for awhile (i.e. since I started post-grad study). But I've started taking supplements as well as Pre-natal vitamins.

I've narrowed my search for a doctor down to a practice near my new house, going to call and make an appointment! Does anyone know what the protocol is to change doctors, do you tell the new one about the old one so that the records can be transferred?

I think I will join the1-6 months TTC thread Thanks for the tip!

When I recently changed GP clinics to a closer one, I asked the receptionist how to get my notes transferred from my old clinic and she gave me a form to fill out for the new clinic to send to my old clinic. My old clinic then invoiced me for the transfer of my notes ($30 fee) which I had to pay before they transferred my notes. Haven't needed to GP since paying transfer fee so I assume next time I see my new GP clinic, they'll have all my notes.

Awesome thanks for the information :)

I'd still get the blood tests so you have something to compare later tests to - to see whether or not your body is absorbing the supplements.

My body just doesn't absorb iron well - so it was good to know that despite all the stinking iron supplements (and C, A and E and beta-carotene and etc I was taking to help it!) just weren't helping - I needed to eat red meat. (Of course, getting pregnant itself helped, as when my periods stopped I stopped losing so much iron!) But it would have been good to know about vitamin K and D and all the other important ones :)