Doctors advise planned pregnancy

Korea has designated Oct. 10 the Day for Pregnant Women. The choice of this date has in large part to do with the general belief that October is the month of harvesting and abundance. Despite the government policy of encouraging childbearing to balance the rapidly aging population, pregnant women are increasingly becoming apprehensive about the health of their unborn children because of factors such as late marriages, pollution and stress. Meanwhile, doctors are admonishing would-be parents for making advance preparations before confirmed pregnancies. According to Professor Han Jung-yeol at Cheil General Hospital & Women’s Healthcare Center, “The health status of a pregnant woman is also determined by her health status before pregnancy.”

Most of all, planned pregnancies can spare would-be mothers the apprehension that in general comes with carrying a child. Often the joy of pregnancy soon turns to anxiety, especially if the woman has a history of drinking, taking medication or exposure to some form of X-rays. According to research by the Korean Safe Mother Professional Counseling Center, which provides counseling for females concerned over exposure to harmful substances during pregnancy, those who do not plan pregnancy are between two and three times more likely to have exposure to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes or X-rays compared with those who planned it.

 Han pointed out that exposure to harmful substance has both direct and indirect adverse effects on pregnancy. “Often they are overly worried about risks of deformities and some even opt for abortion in the most serious cases. Making matters worse, the abortion may bring about serious side-effects such as a higher risk of premature birth in a future pregnancy or depression,” he said. Those planning to have a baby should quit drinking and smoking in advance. Alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, and cigarettes may cause preterm birth or giving birth to an underweight baby. Those on medication also need to consult their doctor. Medicine for acne, for instance, can cause deformities in babies. On top of avoiding cigarettes and alcohol, Han said that would-be mothers should maintain a healthy and nutritional dietary pattern. He recommends taking folic acid. “Despite information that the intake of folic acid prior to pregnancy can notably improve the results of pregnancy, it seems that not many doctors and women are making use of this knowledge,” he said. According to research by the Korean Safe Mother Professional Counseling Center, only 10 percent of pregnant women take folic acid during the fourth and fifth weeks of pregnancy while the intake during the period can help prevent neural tube defects.

 Agasarang, an Internet site for pregnancy, childbirth and childrearing run by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, offers some tips on what one should do ahead of pregnancy.  First of all, one should visit an ob/gyn, with their spouse if possible, for counseling. It is also imperative for men to also prepare for healthy pregnancies, in ways that will ensure that pursuing a good habits and a healthy lifestyle improves chances of healthy pregnancy. Another related point is that the planning process can enable doctors to determine the health status of both partners, by factoring things such as an individual’s history in obstetrics and internal medicine and family hereditary conditions. Those with diabetes or high blood pressure should take extra caution during pregnancy. Those planning to have a baby should also have proper vaccination after checking whether they have antibodies for rubella, chicken pox and hepatitis B. It generally takes several months for the effects of the vaccine to be felt, therefore making it necessary to get things done in advance. Dental health is another factor to consider during pregnancy, because it does have ramifications for the fetus.

Korea Times