Pre-Pregnancy Checkups in Detroit and Southeastern Michigan
The women’s health physicians at DMC Medical Group provide pre-pregnancy checkups in Detroit and southeastern Michigan so that you can make sure you are healthy before becoming pregnant. We provide services in Bingham Farms, Bloomfield Hills, Commerce Township, Dearborn, Detroit, Farmington Hills, Hartland, and Livonia.
This appointment is an opportunity for your doctor to check for any health conditions that may affect your pregnancy or the health of your baby, and you should get one even if you have already had a baby, since your health may have changed since you were last pregnant.
A pre-pregnancy checkup isn’t too dissimilar from a regular physical exam, but you should be prepared with information for your doctor that includes:
- What type of birth control you are on
- When your last menstrual cycle was and how long it typically lasts
- Your diet and lifestyle habits
- A list of the medications that you take
- Any chronic medical conditions
- Your recent travel (primarily whether you have been to an area where Zika virus is prevalent)
- Your family history
During your pre-pregnancy checkup, your doctor will conduct many of the standard health screenings that you are accustomed to having at your other routine exams, along with some other screenings that are specific to the pre-pregnancy exam. These tests and screenings may include:
- Pap test
- Pelvic, breast, and abdominal exam
- Blood pressure check
- Screenings for gynecological conditions
- Weight check
- Urine test
- Blood test
- Mental health screening
Patients who are under 35 and have no known fertility issues will not typically need to have any fertility tests done, but women who are 35 or older and hoping to become pregnant or patients who have known fertility issues may have additional screenings done to check for potential roadblocks to conceiving. These tests may include a blood test to check for progesterone levels to confirm ovulation, checking for FSH, estradiol, and AMH to determine how many eggs you have remaining, and checking for male hormones if your physician suspects that you may have polycystic ovary syndrome.
Your pre-conception exam in Detroit will also include counseling from your physician on lifestyle changes you should make to help ensure a healthy pregnancy, which medications you may need to change to ensure your baby’s safety, vaccinations that you may need to get, when to stop using birth control, and other considerations. If you are ready for the exciting stage of preparing to start a family, the caring physicians at DMC Medical Group are ready to guide you through the process with enthusiasm. Call us today at (888) 542-7028 to schedule a consultation.