Preconception counselling

The information below is for all patients who are eligible for preconception support (all women aged 16-44). This campaign allows a woman who might be considering pregnancy in the future, to have the best chance of having a healthy pregnancy.

General advice for women planning on pregnancy in the future:

Smoking

• If you smoke, then you can seek advice from One You Walsall (details below) to help quit. See this NHS website for details about why it is so important to stop smoking.

  It is ideal if you and your partner can stop smoking at least four months before getting pregnant but stopping at any point really helps.

  For more information about how smoking affects both the mother, father and baby please see

  How smoking affects female and male fertility | Tommy's (tommys.org)

  https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/smoking-and-pregnancy/risks-secondhand-smoke 

Diabetes

• If you are diabetic, you should seek a review by the diabetes team at the practice if you are planning on a pregnancy (using eConsult through our practice website). This is due to potential complications to the baby if your diabetes is not very tightly controlled.

Diet and Vitamins

• If you’re pregnant or have children under the age of 4 you can get free vouchers or payments every 4 weeks to spend on:
  • cow’s milk
  • fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables
  • infant formula milk
  • fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
  • Get help to buy food and milk
• You can also get free Healthy Start vitamins. Healthy Start Vitamins and Vitamin SupplementationEating a healthy, varied diet in pregnancy will help you get most of the vitamins and minerals you need. But when you’re pregnant, or there’s a chance you might get pregnant, it’s important to also take a folic acid supplement. It’s recommended that you take:
  • 400 micrograms of folic acid every day – from before you’re pregnant until you’re 12 weeks pregnant
• This is to reduce the risk of problems in the baby’s development in the early weeks of pregnancy.It is also recommended that you take a daily vitamin D supplement. 
  https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/vitamins-supplements-and-nutrition/ 
• Healthy Start vitamins contain both folic acid and Vit D. It is possible to buy these even if you are not eligible to the free vitamins Your midwife can direct you to the national site to claim your vitamins. Your local pharmacist will be able to provide and advice on vitamins required when planning a pregnancy

Mind Health

• If you need any mind health advice, there are links on our Mind Health page.
• Pregnancy can be a time of joy and expectation but can bring feelings of anxiety. You do not need to struggle alone. It is important to talk to friends, your midwife, the Health in Pregnancy team, your GP or to the below;
  • a)Walsall Talking Therapy Service (NHS Talking Therapies) NHS talking therapies can help you if you’re struggling to cope with feelings of anxiety or depression. Rest assured it’s totally confidential. You can self-refer by calling 0800 953 0995, emailing talkingtherapies.walsall@nhs.net, or complete a form online at https://www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/walsall-talking-therapiesFind out more: www.nhs.uk/talk 
  • b) Walsall Pregnancy Help (WPH)WPH offer a specialist service relative to pregnancy (Walsall Pregnancy Help) and a general counselling service and educational service (WPH Counselling and Education Services). Their services are totally unbiased and are there to meet the needs of all, Appointments can be arranged either through direct referral from statutory organisations or by telephone contact or email. Telephone: 01922 649000 Email: wphcounselling@btconnect.com https://www.wphcounselling.org/ 
• For further information about supporting your mental health before, during and after pregnancy, see https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/mental-wellbeing/mental-health-during-and-after-pregnancy

Alcohol

• The latest guidance about alcohol is discussed on this NHS.uk website.

Lifestyle

If you are over your ideal weight, you can seek help from One You Walsall who will advise about healthy eating and exercise. You can check if your weight is within the normal range on this NHS.uk website.

Tel: 01922 444044 (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm)

Website: www.oneyouwalsall.com