Many working women and mothers have a struggle as it is to maintain a healthy balance of the needs of their home life and work life.This evolution can cause confusion for women and create stress around the decision to have children or start a family. Basically the choice is stiffening up about whether to focus on your career or focus on your family. Should it really be that strict of a choice?
Dr. Mary Jane Minkin is a well-known, obstetrician, gynecologist and clinical professor at the Yale University School of Medicine and First Response spokesperson. In an interview that the Working Parents Examiner did with Dr. Minkin, she helps address some of these questions and concerns for women thinking about starting a family.
Who is She?
Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist in private practice in New Haven, Connecticut, and a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine.
The makers of FIRST RESPONSE™ have been a pioneer in women’s health with a portfolio of innovative fertility, ovulation and pregnancy at-home test kits for over 25 years. Dr. Minkin is passionate about educating women about their bodies, which is why she has teamed up with the brand to ensure that women have the tools they need to take charge of their reproductive health in order to make the right family planning decisions for them.
What kinds of discussions regarding health should take place when a woman, whether married or single decides to start a family? Who would be the players in this conversation?
Dr. Minkin reminds women that they need to speak to their Ob/Gyn openly and frequently about their reproductive health, especially if they’re planning to start a family. Sharing their health history like whether or not they have a chronic disease like diabetes high blood pressure or is battling obesity is critical because there are certain lifestyle or medical related adjustments that may need to be made to get these women ready to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy.
Women should also talk to their friends and family about needs pre-, during and post-pregnancy. A strong support system is important.
Additionally, just like you train for a race, Dr. Minkin encourages women tying to conceive to get their bodies ready for conception. Below are tips Dr. Minkin offers to help her patients prepare for the journey to conception.
- Behave Like You’re Already Pregnant. Use this time as motivation to eliminate unhealthy habits from your lifestyle such as alcohol consumption, smoking and any illegal drugs. Ample preparation will make the transition to expectant mom smoother.
- Know Your Body! The best time to start tracking your cycle is before you start trying to conceive. To help identify the 24-36 hours when you are most likely to conceive, use an ovulation test, like the FIRST RESPONSE™ Unmistakable Yes/No Digital Ovulation Test. When directions for use are carefully followed, tests like these can help you get pregnant sooner.
- Stick to Your Fitness Schedule. Pregnancy is a marathon. Stay active and develop a workout schedule to help you stay healthy.
- Boost Your Vitamin Intake. It’s important to get the proper vitamins and folic acid. 0.4 milligrams of folic acid daily are recommended. Folic acid has been found to be instrumental in helping to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs) which often develop before a woman knows she is pregnant. Iron is essential for making red blood cells and preventing anemia and fatigue. Make sure to choose a prenatal vitamin with a tolerable form of iron to reduce the possibility of constipation, bloating and nausea. Ensure you are getting the recommended levels of Calcium or Vitamin D needed to ensure a healthy conception and pregnancy.
- Get Strict About Your Diet. Follow a well-balanced diet containing food from all major food groups. Don’t diet, either to gain or lose weight, because this may affect your reproductive cycle.
- If you think you may be pregnant, take a pregnancy test as soon as possible. Technology has come a long way. Now the FIRST RESPONSE™ Early Result Pregnancy Test can detect the pregnancy hormone, hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin), 6 days before your missed period. In one study, in 68% of the samples tested, pregnancy could be detected up to 6 days before the day of the missed period.
Waiting until you’re in your 30’s or 40’s to have a child? what are the risks and how prevalent are these risks?
Every woman is born with all the eggs that she will ever have. As the eggs mature and are released over time, the number of eggs she has decreases. Age can play a role in a woman’s ability to get pregnant.
Women under 35 years old who have been trying to get pregnant for over 12 months or women older than 35 who have been trying to get pregnant for 6 months should consult a physician. Women should asses their ovarian reserve with the FIRST RESPONSE™ Fertility Test for Women and be empowered to know sooner. (This test does not detect for all fertility issues.)
While age is a major factor in a woman’s fertility, Dr. Minkin reminds women that it’s not the only factor. Endometriosis, irregular periods and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome may also limit the chances of becoming pregnant. Fertility is complex. Dr. Minkin encourages her patients to take advantage of at-home technologies like FIRST RESPONSE™ to gauge their fertility potential.
For women who have remarried and want to start a family again, are there any special concerns for them after having had kids at an earlier age and then starting over again in their 30’s or 40’s?
The fact that the woman has been pregnant before is a good sign. However, the age risks are still there because her body is older. For example, she may not be ovulating as frequently as she was in her 20’s. Women in their 30’s or 40’s who are trying to conceive after having children already should assess their ovarian reserve by using a test like FIRST RESPONSE ™ Daily Digital Ovulation Test and should consult a doctor if issues occur.
Also, 50% of fertility issues are a result of the male. If are woman is getting remarried, she and her new partner should consult a doctor about their fertility, especially if the male does not have children from previous relationships.
For women in their twenties, what should they discuss with their doctors about living a healthy lifestyle in preparation now?
The biggest lifestyle change that women in their 20’s can do to prepare for pregnancy and to maintain long-term fertility is to stop smoking. Smoking decreases ovarian function and accelerates menopause 1-2 years on average. Also, women in their 20’s may not be ready to settle down with one partner. If they are “playing the field,” Dr. Minkin encourages them to protect themselves by using condoms if they are sexually active. Using condoms properly can prevent contraction of STDs like gonorrhea and chlamydia that can affect one’s fertility down the road.
