Under new guidance from the Obama Administration, qualified health insurance plans must cover well-woman preventive visits and preconception care without cost sharing, providing good news to expectant mothers looking to start families.
Women can receive free or low-cost maternity care at Planned Parenthood and community health centers, and may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP depending on their income level.
What is a Preconception Visit?
Parenthood can be one of the most fulfilling journeys, yet also be overwhelming. That is why it is essential to prepare when beginning to create your family, which MU Health Care offers preconception appointments to do exactly. These appointments aim to identify risk factors which might impede fertility, pregnancy or early child development that might hinder a pregnancy process or early child development.
At your appointment with an obstetrics provider, they will discuss your current health status, past OB history and medications that might help before trying to conceive. In addition, a pelvic exam, blood pressure reading and urine sample will be performed. Furthermore, antibody titers will be checked to see whether you are immune from rubella (German measles) and varicella (chicken pox), both of which can pose risks during gestation. Finally, genetic disorders like Tay-Sachs disease or sickle cell anemia will also be checked.
Prepare for your visit by gathering medical history of both you and your partner. Discuss any factors which could potentially hinder conception or cause complications during gestation, such as prior miscarriages or abortions or diseases/conditions running in your family such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia; your doctor may refer you to a genetic counselor if there is evidence of genetic abnormalities such as chromosomal anomalies.
Doctors during preconception visits typically order lab tests to rule out common causes of infertility. They’ll likely look for sexually transmitted infections like Chlamydia, Herpes or HIV as well as checking sex hormone levels (if needed) and sometimes provide you with a pap smear or mammogram as part of this assessment process.
If your doctor determines it necessary, they might recommend a course of treatment to optimize any medical conditions which need to be managed before trying for pregnancy. For instance, if you have high blood pressure they might prescribe medication to control this. In addition to prescribing medications to address high blood pressure they might also advise stopping smoking, drinking in moderation or limiting exposure to toxic chemicals or fumes.
What Are the Benefits of a Preconception Visit?
Are You Planning On Conceiving Soon? A preconception visit can be an excellent way to ensure your body is ready. At this appointment, your physician will assess any health problems which might hinder pregnancy as well as review family history and medications that you take; additionally they may suggest certain tests or screenings, like Pap tests and blood work screenings to detect abnormal cells that could lead to cervical cancer risk.
Preconception visits provide more than just preventive healthcare services; they’re also the perfect opportunity to begin planning for pregnancy. Your doctor will advise on which prenatal vitamins you need and the right amount of folic acid. Folic acid helps protect unborn babies against neural tube defects like spina bifida; taking it a minimum of one month prior to conception allows your body time to absorb this essential nutrient.
Preconception visits provide you and your partner an ideal opportunity to discuss how you plan to approach future childbirth. If egg donation or surrogacy are options that interest you, your doctor can refer you to healthcare resources offering these services and give tips on tracking menstrual cycles so that it’s clear when it’s best for trying for pregnancy.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that providers offer preconception counseling to all female patients of reproductive age, discussing the impact of current health, lifestyle and medications on conceiving successfully and having a healthy pregnancy. Involvement from nursing staff, pharmacists, nutritionists or other members of their healthcare team – nursing, pharmacy or nutritionists could all play an essential part in prepregnancy care; nursing assistants could encourage taking folic acid supplements or making other changes that will help with conception; help set a pregnancy timeline or develop an action plan to help make conception possible.
How Much Will a Preconception Visit Cost?
Preconception visits should include a physical exam that includes, depending on your age, Pap smears (if applicable), blood work and other tests designed to detect conditions that could interfere with pregnancy. Your physician might also discuss lifestyle factors like diet, exercise and drug use with you as you work toward planning a healthy pregnancy. They might also inquire into your family medical history; for example if there is any history of cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease or Tay-Sachs disease within it.
Preconception visits often include referrals to genetic counselors.2 According to the Kaiser Foundation, such visits should be covered by health insurance without cost-sharing arrangements (i.e. copays or deductibles).
Preconception appointments offer many advantages to women looking forward to conception, such as helping them feel more prepared and relaxed about conceiving and carrying a baby. An ob-gyn may provide tips for leading a healthier lifestyle – for instance reducing smoking or excessive alcohol consumption as applicable – or ensure they maintain an ideal bodyweight so it becomes easier for conception.
Your ob-gyn may also review your current medications and discuss any chronic illness or social risks that might impact fertility or pregnancy, such as having an infection such as genital herpes or taking any drugs that could be harmful to a pregnancy. Be prepared to provide details at this meeting.
Discuss with your ob-gyn any additional risk factors, such as exposure to harmful chemicals and HIV testing status; as well as vaccination status against diseases like rubella and chickenpox. Also inform them about what birth control you use and when and why it will stop, since certain methods could delay conception or even lead to difficulties during early gestation.
How Can I Get a Preconception Visit?
Starting the journey towards conception can be exciting for any woman. But to maximize your chances of conceiving healthily, a preconception appointment with your OB/GYN can provide invaluable assistance in improving your chances for a healthy pregnancy. During this appointment, they’ll review your medical history and suggest strategies to increase chances of healthy gestation.
At your appointment, your OB/GYN may conduct a physical exam and tests, including pap smear and blood work. They’ll look out for infections like Hepatitis C or HIV which could harm an unborn baby; she’ll also review your menstrual cycle to detect irregularities that could impact fertility; she may recommend genetic testing so she can detect Tay-Sachs syndrome and sickle cell disease in both you and your partner.
Prior to trying for pregnancy, certain health issues should be managed effectively. Your OB/GYN will use this visit as an opportunity to optimize current medical treatments and prescribe any necessary medication, such as for high blood pressure or diabetes management. At this appointment they’ll help make sure these issues are under control before beginning trying for conception.
At your visit, you will also discuss your lifestyle and goals for pregnancy with your gynecologist. If you wish to have two or more children at once, your gynecologist will set specific spacing goals between pregnancies. He or she may also ask about previous surgeries you’ve undergone that could impact pregnancy outcomes.
Your OB/GYN will also discuss whether or not you’ve received vaccinations against diseases like rubella (German measles) and varicella (chicken pox), both of which can pose significant threats during gestation, potentially endangering both mother and baby. He or she will suggest any necessary vaccines in order to boost your immunity before you attempt conception.
Your health plan might cover some or all preconception appointments; others might require a co-pay or additional payment. To find out the cost of your visit, speak to a member of your insurance provider’s customer service team; in addition, Planned Parenthood health centers and community clinics offer low cost or free preconception visits.