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Whilst unplanned pregnancies are common & not necessarily problematic,pregnancy planning is important for mother and baby health. It’s all about taking steps to allow the pregnancy to unfold as smoothly as possible.

The first objective is to check iron levels. This is vital as many women suffer from anaemia during pregnancy, especially those from BAME (Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic) backgrounds. Potential effects of anaemia during pregnancy include: premature labour; a low baby birthweight; and placental abruption.It can also result in your own body being less able to cope with blood loss during labour, iron deficiency in the baby for up to 3 months, as well as problems with the baby’s mental development.To prevent anaemia, try to maintain a balanced diet with iron rich foods.Taking iron supplements when levels are low is also a good idea – your GP will prescribe these as required.

Secondly, get your immunity levels checked, especially against Rubella – also known as ‘German Measles’.If you’re not immunised against it and by chance, develop Rubella during the early weeks of pregnancy,resulting consequences can be potentially devastating. The risk of miscarriage is increased, and even when this does not occur,since Rubella affects the whole body, a range of foetal complications can happen, such asa condition known as microcephaly, in which the baby’s head is visibly much smaller than average. It can also cause hindered brain development,growth problems, mental retardation, slurred speech, vision problems and even early onset cataract.Babies born with the effects of Rubella during pregnancy will require extra care, which impacts the whole family, as well as the baby themselves as they go through life.So, make sure to check your immunity status

regrading Rubella and get vaccinatedat least 3 months prior to trying for a baby. In fact, we’d recommend using reliable contraception during this 3-month period.Only begin trying for a baby after this time period has passed, to ensure the live components of the vaccine cannot disrupt a healthy pregnancy.

And lastly, maintain good normal health habits, like eating your 5-a-day and drinking 2-3 litres of water every day. For more general health tips, check out our previous health series articles.
Also, throughout a pregnancy try to remain as active as possible!
So, there you have it –

Step 1 – check your iron levels.

Step 2 – check your immunity status against Rubella and get vaccinated.

Step 3 – maintain good normal health habits.

For specific questions, send us a message on our social media or email admin-uk@ifmch.com to speak to our Consultant Gynaecologist & Obstetrician Dr Khan.