MOTHER AND CHILD CARE
(MAMTA KA AANGAN)

                        Episode No. 1    Preparing to be a Parent

Q:  How soon can I conceive after stopping oral contraceptive pills?
A:  For becoming pregnant, it is important for the ovulatory cycle to be re-established (they are anovulatory when you are taking oral contraceptive pills). For some women, it might take time for this cycle to be established, and for them it might take 2-3 months to conceive. For others it might be possible to conceive in the very next cycle after stopping the OCP.

Q: Is it safe to conceive immediately after stopping OCPs?
A:  Research has shown that there is no harm in conceiving immediately after stopping OCPs. Some obstetricians however recommend waiting for 2-3 cycles.

Q. Is there a right age (medically ) for conceiving?
A.  Teenage pregnancy considered high-risk pregnancy and should be avoided. It is best to conceive after 19 years. Although an elderly primagravida (women conceiving for the first time at age 35 or later) was once at greater risk of adverse complications of a pregnancy, newer techniques and drugs have  eliminated most of the risk and made it possible for even women of menopausal age to bear children.

Q. Are there any other things to take care about for first time parents ?
A: Check out if there are any genetic disorders like hemophilia or thalassemia in your family. If there is any such history, you will have to seek genetic counseling.

Q: What is genetic counseling?  
A:  It is the process whereby an expert in hereditary disorders provides information about risk and clinical burden of a disorder or disorders to patients or relatives in families with genetic disorders as an aid to making informed and responsible decisions about marriage, children, early diagnosis, and handling disability.

Q: Can women suffering from chronic diseases like heart diseases epilepsy, diabetes and high blood pressure have successful pregnancies? A: Definitely. If you have any such diseases, consult your doctor before conceiving. He/she may want to change some of the medications so that the fetus is not harmed. Such pregnancies are high risk and are to be monitored closely.

Q: Is it OK to smoke or drink during pregnancy?  
A: Both smoking and drinking are found to be harmful to the fetus. Women who are habitual smokers and drinkers are advised to stop these habits. The partner should also not smoke in the presence of a pregnant women as this will amount to passive smoking.  
             Studies show that smoking in 20 or more cigarettes a day can cause increased incidence of spontaneous abortions, haemorrhage, foetal growth retardation, etc. Drinking 30 ml of ethanol (approx. 2 ½ glasses of wine, or 1000ml of beer) daily is known to cause fetal alcohol syndrome whose features are mental retardation, small head of fetus, facial abnormalities, growth retardation (decreased weight and length at birth), increased incidence of death of baby soon after birth.

Q: What is the mental preparation required before a couple has a baby? A: Mental preparation can be divided into two, one before the child is born and one after the child is born. A pregnant woman will require mental, emotional and physical support from her spouse, for instance, a partner should be ready to deal with the possible mood swings a pregnant woman can undergo. When the baby arrives, the couple should be ready for total disruption of their schedule—with late night crying, feeding, etc. The atmosphere in the home should be made as comfortable and happy as possible for the child.

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