Research shows that there are a range of factors that can affect a couple`s ability to conceive, as well as factors that can affect the overall health and well-being of the pregnancy and their baby-to-be. The risk of something going wrong with your baby`s health and development can be reduced by adopting a range of health measures. However, while precautions can be taken, you could find that you have little or no control over other factors. This is particularly so where concerns relate to a condition or disorder that is inherited (genetic).
Having information about these issues gives you an opportunity to consider whether you and your partner need to make any life style and/or health behaviour changes. It can also offer you more time to think about the decisions that you may need to take before you decide to try for a baby.
Thinking about your health before you decide to become pregnant may involve the need to make some changes to your life style. These should not only help you to achieve a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby, but may also have longer-term health benefits for you and your partner which extend throughout your lifetime. The information in this section is about planning a pregnancy as well as care in the early weeks of pregnancy, with a focus on the current guidance being offered in the United Kingdom (UK). It therefore looks at the choices, decisions and responsibilities of parents as individuals, as well as health services in the UK that are available to help, advise and support them. These services have an important role to play where you might need to make specific changes to your health and lifestyle...
Topics covered include:
- Being prepared
- Start the clock: conception and fertilisation
- Skeletons in the cupboard
- Your age
- Your weight
- Sex, drugs and alcohol
- If you smoke
- Hidden hazards around you.
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Resources
Foresight
178 Hawthorn Road, West Bognor, West Sussex PO21 2UY
Tel: 01243 868001
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
21 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3HF
Tel: 020 7291 8200
Email: admin@hfea.gov.uk
Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) (formerly SATFA)
73 Charlotte Street, London W1T 4PN
Tel: 020 7631 0280
Helpline: 020 7631 0285
Email: info@arc-uk.org
Genetic counselling service
7th Floor, Borough Wing, Guy's Hospital, Great Maze Pond,
London SE1 9RT
Tel: 020 7188 1364
Congenital abnormality register
There are many different regional congenital abnormality registers in the UK. Your midwife will be able to give you details of your local register.
Environment Agency
National Customer Contact Centre, PO Box 544,
Rotherham S60 1BY
Tel: 08708 506 506 (general enquiries)
Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Customer Contact Unit, Eastbury House,
30-34 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TL
Tel: 08459 33 55 77
Email: helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Healthcare Commission
Offices in London, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and
Solihull. For contact details, please see website
Health and Safety Executive
Tel: HSE Infoline 0845 345 0055
FSA (Food Standards Agency)
Offices in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For
contact details, please see website
Contributors include:
Mr. Peter Young, MB; ChB; MRCOG;
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Prof. Moira Plant, RN; RMN; PhD;
Professor of Alcohol Studies
Anne Viccars, MA; BSc (Hons); PGDipEd; RM; RN;
Senior Lecturer in Midwifery
Dr. AP Madden, MA; BM; BCh; FRCA;
Consultant Anaesthetist
Dr. Julie Dallison, MSc; DPhil
Dr. Jenny Ingram, PhD; BSc (Hons)
Dr. Mary Stewart, PhD; RN; RM; ADM; BSc (Hons);
MSc; PGDipHE
Prof. Christine MacArthur, PhD;
Professor of Maternal and Child Epidemiology
Dr. Sally Marchant, PhD; RN; RM; ADM; DipEd
Prof. JG Thornton, MD; FRCOG;
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Rona McCandlish, RM; RMN; RN; MSc (Epid);
Sarah Beake, MSc; RM; RN; Research Midwife
Prof. Alison Macfarlane, BA; Dip Stat; C Stat; FFPH;
Professor of Perinatal Health
April Bolding, DPT; Childbirth Educator; Doula, USA
Dr. Helen Churchill, PhD; BA (Hons); Senior Lecturer
Dr. Louise Howard, PhD; MSc; MRCP; MRC Psych;
Senior Lecturer in Women's Mental Health
Sharon Hodgkiss, RN; RM; DipHE; BSc (Hons); MPH;
West Midlands Regional NSC Antenatal & Child Health
Screening Coordinator
Vicky Carne, MSc; BA (Hons); ADM; RM; RN;
Head of Midwifery, MIDIRS
Glenda Augustine, MPH; BSc (Hons); RM; DipHV, RGN
Debra Kroll, MSc; PGCEA; ADM; RM; RN;
Midwifery Lecturer in Practice
Michelle Lynn, BEd (Hons); ADM; RM; RN;
Midwifery Advisor, Nursing and Midwifery Council
Chrissie Hammonds, MSc; RM; RN;
Midwife Ultrasonographer
Sara Wickham, MA; BA (Hons); RM; PGCE (A);
Midwife & Author
Dr. Sandy Oliver, PhD; BA; Reader in Public Policy
Sally Cottrell, RM; BSc; MSc; MICG; NNEB; Consultant
Midwife Public Health, Women & Family
Dr. Gillian Flett, FRCOG; FFSRH; MIPM; Consultant in
Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinical Lead, NHS Grampian
Amanda Mansfield, BSc (Hons); MSc; RM;
Consultant Midwife
Dr. Joyshri Sarangi, MBBS (Lond.); MBA; MRCP (UK);
MRCGP; FFPH; Consultant in Communicable Disease Control
