So you want to get married?

You've planned for this day for months...maybe even years if you count the time spent day dreaming about it.   It's important you spend a little time at your favorite gynecologists prior to the big day.

I know...not what you had in mind right?

Still, here's what you can expect at your first premarital exam. We promise it will be a good experience. 

1.  Meet with one of our providers.  We have a variety of providers with varying strengths and personality types, all who are great to listen and ease your anxiety.  They are willing to work with you, past health issues, current health concerns and how to prepare for the next phase of life.  You can choose to meet with one of our OB/GYN docs, or our Nurse Practitioner who is amazing and a wonderful choice for young women who have not been sexually active.

2.  The premarital exam.  The worst part of a premarital exam is the anxiety and worry leading up to it.  The internal exam is important in order to make sure you are in good physical health and identify any problems that could cause painful intercourse.  The premarital exam is also a good time to go over any other health concerns you may have regarding your general health or gynecological issues.  Your doctor will also make sure you are up to date on immunizations. 

3.  Birth control.  This is a good time to educate yourself on the options in birth control and discuss any worries or concerns you may have. 

4.  Pregnancy.  Not only can you discuss birth control but talk about how to prepare now, for the day when you want to conceive.  Your provider can give you great information on diet and nutrition, high risk issues and how to be your best healthy self,  prior to getting pregnant.

5.  Q and A.  The premarital exam is also the best time to confide and ask questions that may have been going unanswered because of the sensitivity of some topics.  This is a great time to establish a relationship with a provider and build trust with him or her. 

Preparing your body and mind for marriage is just as important as choosing the dress.  The wedding day lasts  for just hours but a marriage lasts a lifetime.  It's important you are prepared and ready to embark on an exciting and new life together.  Madison Women's Clinic is here for you every step of the way. 

The Baby Business

 

The business of having a baby is big! 

Most women conceive, incubate and deliver a healthy baby with few, if any, bumps in the road.  For less than 10% of pregnant women, it's not quite as routine.  For many reasons, they can be considered high risk.


What puts a woman in a high risk category for pregnancy?

• Age-  The younger or older you are, the greater your risk for complications such as early miscarriage or genetic defects, for women over 40.  Having good prenatal care can do a lot to keep the mother safe and often complications can be managed you are followed closely. 
• Pre- existing health conditions- Being pregnant puts a huge strain on your body.  If you already deal with health issues such as diabetes, autoimmune disease, depression, anxiety, kidney, heart or lung issues, you will want to involve your doctor long before you decide to get pregnant.  Any family history with miscarriage, early delivery or any other complications can put you at risk too. 
• Medical conditions brought on as a result of pregnancy-  You can be totally healthy and sometimes, it's still not enough.  Gestational diabetes, Pre-eclampsia are two conditions that can develop while you are pregnant.  Again, good prenatal care is vitally important so that if an issue were to arise, it could be managed sooner than later. 
• Multiple births- Of course, twins, triplets or more creates a special circumstance that requires more vigilance and care.  Today, most women are able to carry multiple babies with very good success but you still need to be educated and careful to ensure they aren't delivered too early. 
• Fetal problems- Sometimes, the health risk to mother may be affected by the health of the baby.  Through ultrasounds, fetal problems can be detected.  Again, early diagnosis and intervention are what is needed to keep mom and baby as healthy as possible.  
• Lifestyle-  It goes without saying that things like drinking, smoking, drug use; both recreational and prescription can also put you in a higher risk bracket for complications. 

It's important to remember that many women in high risk categories often go on to deliver happy, healthy babies.  Creating a trusting relationship with your doctor can make it easier to catch these problems earlier, should they crop up.  We live in a time when technology in medicine and especially obstetrics has advanced so far.  There are a series of informative tests and treatments that can be done to ensure the health of both mom and baby.  With all these safety precautions in place, you can allow yourself to relax and enjoy the business of bringing a baby into the world.