Ask the Experts: Anne Marie B. McCarren, M.D., chief, Obstetrical and Gynecological Services, Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe
Q: My husband and I are thinking about having a child. I have always eaten poorly as weight has never been an issue for me. Eating healthy was never a priority - until now. Will my unhealthy eating and exercise habits affect my child?
A: You are smart to start thinking about good nutrition before you conceive. Now is the time to also kick up the exercise. A mother's health determines how healthy - and intelligent - the child will be. To help ensure a healthy child, women should give themselves at least six months to prepare.
Having a complete physical is at the top of the list. Many young women only see their gynecologist for birth control pills. The physical will indicate a clean bill of health or areas of concern that need to be addressed before conception. Simple blood tests will reveal conditions that could affect fertility, such as a problem with your thyroid. Your physician should also check your immunity to rubella and chicken pox as well so you don't have to worry about exposure during pregnancy. It is also the best time to check for Rhesus disease (an incompatibility of the mother and baby's blood) which can be easily treated during pregnancy.
You mentioned never having a problem with your weight. Are you sure you are a healthy weight? Just as being overweight may result in pregnancy problems, being underweight is just as risky. Birth defects such cleft palates can be influence when the mother is not of healthy weight. There is also a greater risk for diabetes and hypertension. If a woman is overweight (with a BMI greater than 25), losing just 5 percent of the excess weight makes an enormous difference in fertility and pregnancy outcomes.
If you smoke, stop! Babies born to mothers who smoke risk being born prematurely, with low birth weight and they have an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome and asthma. Alcohol and drugs - even some over-the-counter type medication and vitamins - should be discontinued. Consult with your physician to determine which medications you should stop taking and what vitamins you should start taking.
Your physician may also recommend taking vitamins with folic acid. The March of Dimes reports that the risk of brain and spinal cord defects are reduced by as much as 50 to 70 percent when the mother is taking a daily dose of 400 micrograms of folic acid.
Taking six months to a year to prepare for your new baby is the best route to take. It gives you and your physician time to prepare and treat conditions that may have an adverse affect on your baby.
For more information contact: Anne Marie B. McCarren, M.D., chief, Obstetrical and Gynecological Services, Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe. She can be reached at 586-771-4780. Beaumont Hospitals is a member of The Family Center's Association of Professionals.
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