Preconception Health

We use birth control to plan our families yet seldom take advantage of preconception health care to ensure our bodies are ready to carry a pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby. Alena Zweben, ND, and the team at Market Place Naturopathic in Seattle, Washington, specialize in preconception health, eliminating common problems that affect your ability to get pregnant and build your family. To see how you can benefit from preconception health care, submit a contact form to request a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation with one of the doctors.

What is preconception health?

Preconception health refers to the preventive care you receive months to years before getting pregnant. The goal is to ensure you don’t have any health issues that would interfere with a full-term pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby.

It’s essential to plan your preconception appointment early enough to have time to make essential changes and optimize your health before you want to get pregnant. If you wait until you’re pregnant, it’s too late to make some of the changes that would make the biggest difference.

Additionally, it’s also essential to address chronic infections, including Lyme disease and tick-borne infections before getting pregnant. It’s vital to ensure that you aren’t being exposed to toxic molds within your home or place of work, while pregnant. 

How does preconception health play a role in infertility?

On average, it takes 6-12 months to get pregnant. If you’re under 35 and healthy, your OB/GYN will tell you to try getting pregnant for 12 months before having an infertility evaluation.

With preconception health care at Market Place Naturopathic, Dr. Zweben screens for the conditions that commonly cause infertility. As a result, they may detect and treat problems before you try to get pregnant to increase your chances of fertility.

What problems are identified in preconception health care?

The great benefit of preconception care at Market Place Naturopathic is that they screen for all the problems your OB/GYN would evaluate, and they go deeper, testing for serious concerns like environmental toxins and heavy metals.

Most doctors don’t test for these toxins, yet they significantly impact your ability to carry a pregnancy and your baby’s health. For example, lead and mercury in the mother cross the placenta and cause irreversible damage to the baby.

At Market Place Naturopathic, Dr. Zweben screens for:

• Chronic health conditions
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Hormone imbalances
• Exercise habits
• Medications
• Stress

Some conditions can lead to preterm birth, stillbirth, and congenital disabilities.

What treatments might I need for my preconception health?

Dr. Zweben uses many natural, complementary, and conventional treatments. When needed, they prescribe medications in addition to herbal medicine, homeopathic remedies, nutritional IV therapy, and nutraceuticals.  

If you’re ready to learn more about your preconception health, submit a contact form to request a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation with one of the doctors.