Things to be aware of before trying to conceive and before becoming pregnant if you are hoping to have a baby [Doctor-supervised]

Review your living environment to prepare for pregnancy

Those hoping to have a baby will need to reconsider their lifestyle, including their diet and sleep. Although it is not a medical term, this is generally called “pregnancy planning,” and refers to the pregnancy activities necessary to increase the rate of implantation. It is important to take in enough nutrients to maintain good health, and in some cases, you may need to refrain from physically demanding work or hobbies.

Stress also has a significant effect on hormone secretion. It is important to aim for a regular life cycle, get enough sleep, and live a stress-free life. In addition, moderate exercise promotes blood flow and raises body temperature, which is said to improve reproductive function in both men and women.

Try to live a comfortable life by having a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, working and exercising appropriately, etc. These preparations before trying to get pregnant require cooperation not only from the woman but also from the couple (partner). Be sure to have a thorough discussion about trying to get pregnant, the pregnancy period, and childbirth.

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Be careful with drugs, smoking, alcohol, and caffeine

Medication

If you are hoping to become pregnant, be careful about taking medication even before you become pregnant. Many symptoms of early pregnancy are similar to a cold, so be careful not to use over-the-counter medications on your own judgment. If you experience any changes in your physical condition, such as a slight fever, while trying to become pregnant, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Smoking

If you are a smoker, quit smoking as soon as possible. The more you smoke, the harder it is to get pregnant, and even if you do get pregnant, it is said to lead to premature birth, miscarriage, and poor development of the baby. You should also be careful of secondhand smoke from smokers around you. For men, smoking is also said to reduce the fertilization ability of sperm, so it is important to quit smoking before trying to get pregnant in order to increase the implantation rate.

Alcohol

Before trying to conceive, you should refrain from drinking alcohol, regardless of the alcohol content. If you drink alcohol during pregnancy, it will have a strong effect on the baby in your womb through the placenta. Alcohol is teratogenic and is said to cause congenital abnormalities as well as miscarriage and stillbirth. In addition to refraining from alcohol consumption before trying to conceive and during pregnancy, drinking alcohol during the breastfeeding period after giving birth is also taboo.

Caffeine

You should be careful about consuming caffeine not only during pregnancy but also before trying to conceive. A small amount of caffeine can improve blood circulation, but excessive intake can disrupt the autonomic nervous system, causing poor circulation, insomnia, and hormonal imbalance.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare also urges caution, stating that excessive caffeine intake during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, low birth weight, and future health risks. Avoid caffeine intake before trying to conceive, during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding, and if you absolutely must enjoy coffee or tea, choose decaffeinated varieties. Note, however, that there are some herbal teas that pregnant women are prohibited from consuming, so be careful.

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Unreasonable dieting before pregnancy is prohibited

If you want to get pregnant, be careful not to go on an extreme diet. Rapid weight loss can cause the female hormones to be secreted improperly, which can prevent ovulation.

Aim for a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet and exercising to maintain a healthy weight.

In terms of your diet, it is a good idea to eat plenty of vitamin-rich vegetables and to make a conscious effort to include foods such as hijiki seaweed and spinach, which are rich in iron, in preparation for pregnancy.

Folic acid intake

It is known that folic acid is a necessary nutrient for pregnant women, but did you know that it is better to take folic acid before becoming pregnant?

Folic acid, one of the B vitamins, is a nutrient related to metabolism and promotes the biosynthesis of DNA, RNA, and proteins. It is also involved in cell division and maturation, making it a very important component for babies in the womb. It has been found that taking in sufficient folic acid before pregnancy can reduce the risk of neural tube defects, which are developmental abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord of babies in the womb.

Therefore, if you are hoping to become pregnant, it is a good idea to start taking folic acid at least one month before you become pregnant.

A baby’s nervous system begins to develop early in pregnancy, but congenital abnormalities occur by around the seventh week of pregnancy, so it is important to start taking it while trying to conceive.

Foods that are high in folic acid include spinach, broccoli, asparagus, molokheiya, liver, etc. It is said that the average intake of folic acid for Japanese people is sufficient through normal diet, but women who are thinking of becoming pregnant or pregnant women need to consume about 1.8 times the usual amount.

For this reason, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare also recommends taking 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of folic acid in supplements in addition to food. However, if you use supplements, be sure to observe the recommended intake amount to avoid taking too much.

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Tests to take before pregnancy

Rubella antibody test

If you contract rubella during early pregnancy, the fetus may become infected and develop congenital rubella syndrome, which includes cataracts, glaucoma, hearing loss, and congenital heart disease.

Even if you were vaccinated as a child, you may not be immune because the immunity from the vaccine decreases with age. Therefore, it is a good idea for both spouses to take a rubella antibody test before trying to conceive, and to get vaccinated against rubella if necessary. Note that pregnant women cannot be vaccinated against rubella, which is a live vaccine, during pregnancy, so it is important to take a test before pregnancy.

In addition, after receiving the vaccination, you will need to use contraception for about two months. Please check with your medical institution for details on the contraception period.

Cervical and breast cancer screening

Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus, which is transmitted through sexual intercourse. Until now, it was thought to be a cancer that occurred most frequently in women in their late 30s, but as sexual intercourse is becoming younger, the incidence rate is increasing even among women in their 20s.

Cervical cancer screening is usually available to people over the age of 20 once every two years, with local governments covering the cost. Cervical cancer screening is also performed during early pregnancy, but pregnant women who have had a negative test within the past year do not need to be screened again.

Although there are few cases of cervical cancer occurring during pregnancy, if it does occur, treatment is necessary. Also, if there is a suspicion of cancer metastasis, termination of pregnancy must be considered, so it is very important to undergo testing before pregnancy.

Regarding breast cancer, if you have any symptoms of concern, such as a lump in the breast, it is a good idea to get tested before becoming pregnant. Ultrasound examinations are generally considered effective for those under 40 years old. In particular, mammography examinations cannot be performed during pregnancy, as the mammary glands are developing, making it difficult to detect cancer.

In the unlikely event that breast cancer is found during pregnancy, increased hormone secretion during pregnancy can make the cancer more likely to progress. Because there is a risk of cancer metastasis, it is even more important to undergo testing before pregnancy in order to ensure early detection and early treatment.

Pre-pregnancy STD testing

We live with various bacteria and viruses, some of which are pathogens that are transmitted through sexual contact. A typical example is HIV (the AIDS virus). Other examples include chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.

If you are infected with a sexually transmitted disease, there is a risk of transmitting it to your child, so both spouses should get tested for STDs before trying to conceive.

Infection with chlamydia, which is on the rise, can lead to premature birth or miscarriage.

These STD tests can be done at the same time as a bridal check-up, a gynecological examination for women about to get married. It is a good idea to look into clinics that offer bridal check-ups.

What is NIPT (New Prenatal Testing)?

Once you have finished trying to conceive and pregnancy (implantation) is confirmed, the thing you are most worried about is the health of your baby. As people are getting married later in life, there is an increase in older women getting pregnant and giving birth, but with age comes a higher risk of the fetus having chromosomal abnormalities . Furthermore, chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus are believed to be the cause of miscarriage and premature birth. For these reasons, knowing the health of the fetus early on is important for protecting the mother’s health and life.

NIPT (New Prenatal Testing) is a test that examines the health of the baby in the womb using only the mother’s blood. As with general blood tests, blood is taken from the mother’s arm, so the direct invasion (damage) to the fetus is considered to be very minimal.

NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) is a test that is often confused with preimplantation diagnosis, but preimplantation diagnosis is a medical procedure in which embryos are examined for chromosomal abnormalities and embryos with a high probability of being free of abnormalities are transplanted into the uterus. On the other hand, NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) is a test that examines the fetus for chromosomal abnormalities and the possibility of a risk of congenital diseases by taking blood samples from 10 weeks and 0 days of pregnancy . Preimplantation diagnosis is performed before pregnancy is confirmed, while NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) is a test that is performed after pregnancy is confirmed.

NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) is a simple test that only requires a blood test, but its accuracy in detecting Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is said to be 99.9% in both sensitivity and specificity , making it a highly accurate test.

Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is the most common chromosomal abnormality in newborns . For this reason, Hiro Clinic NIPT offers individual chromosome testing for those who wish to test only for Down syndrome (trisomy 21). Individual chromosome testing is possible for Down syndrome (trisomy 21) , Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18), and Patau syndrome (trisomy 13) . For more information, please contact Hiro Clinic NIPT .

At Hiro Clinic NIPT, we value the “right of mothers and their families to know.” In order to know the health condition of the baby in the womb as soon as possible, sample testing is performed at the “Tokyo Hygienic Laboratory” in Japan, and 95% of the results are delivered within 8 days of blood collection (excluding some plans). In addition, all Hiro Clinic NIPT locations, excluding affiliated facilities, offer an express delivery option (delivery in as little as 2 days from blood collection).

If you have any questions about NIPT (new type prenatal testing), please contact Hiro Clinic NIPT . Doctors and staff who are well versed in NIPT (new type prenatal testing) will answer your questions carefully.

Enjoy a healthier pregnancy with Hiro Clinic NIPT ( new prenatal diagnosis) , which is gentle on both the mother and baby .

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