Pre-pregnancy + Pregnancy Care Planner

If you are planning a pregnancy there are a number of things you should think about   –

Diet – a good diet, with enough vitamins and minerals, is important to help with conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy. In particular you should consider taking folic acid supplements

Medicines- it is better not to use drugs/medicines in pregnancy , but with some conditions it cannot be avoided. If you need to take medication through a pregnancy, eg for epilepsy, you may need to be switched to one more appropriate for use in pregnancy.

lifestyle – tobacco, alcohol and recreational drugs can all cause problems in achieving and during a pregnancy. If you use any of these, there are services to help you –

Smoking cessation clinics

Alcohol services

Wirral drug service

For a healthy couple trying for a pregnancy, the ‘success rate’ is around 8% per month. This means that up to one in ten can take up to a year. I f you have been trying for more than a year please make an appointment to assess if any tests are needed .

If you think you may be pregnant, there are several quick, reliable pregnancy tests available. If the test is positive, please make an appointment with your doctor. We can discuss the services available.  The community midwife is the key health professional through your  pregnancy and a few weeks after.  Midwives give advice on all aspects of pregnancy care , including help with breastfeeding.

The more you know about your pregnancy and your options, the more you are likely to feel in control. The information given here is based on The Pregnancy Book, which your midwife should give you at your first appointment.

If you need to book an appointment with a doctor here at the surgery during your pregnancy, it is important for you to bring your antenatal record and also a urine sample with you every time.

Click on the link below to visit the NHS website where you will find lots of information relating to Pregnancy planning and care advice.

Pregnacy care planner