The care a woman receives prior to conception is just as important as the care she receives during pregnancy, as both are essential for a good outcome for mother and baby. Pre-conception is also the ideal time for women to address their lifestyle, as diet, exercise, smoking, drinking and drug habits can all influence fertility as well as pregnancy outcomes. Making lifestyle changes is particularly important for women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome, as achieving a healthy weight, good blood sugar control through diet and keeping physically active can all aid ovulation and therefore conception. However, a recent survey conducted by researchers at University College London showed that the majority of women do not seek advice before trying to conceive, even though at this stage in their life they are motivated to make positive changes when provided with information on choosing healthier habits.

While 73% of pregnancies in the study were planned, just 27% of women in London sought pre-conception advice from a health professional. As only 63% of the women whose pregnancy was planned took folic acid before conceiving, which is recommended to prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida, their decision regarding pre- conception care was not an indication that they were already fully informed about current recommendations. The research also showed that women who received pre- conception support were twice as likely to make positive changes to their lifestyle, which was particularly evident when it came to stopping smoking. This indicates that with the right support women are more inclined to adopt positive behaviours that can benefit both their own health and that of their baby once they conceive. Women considering private pregnancy care should therefore consider seeking private pre-conception care too.

For women struggling to conceive, Dr Kumar Kunde who runs a private pregnancy care London clinic is able to assess their needs and offer a range of lifestyle, drug and surgical interventions to suit these. Whether women have polycystic ovaries, endometriosis or fibroids, Dr Kunde is able to help women increase their chances of successfully conceiving. In cases of unexplained infertility or where other treatments have failed, assisted conception is additionally an option. Dr Kunde is also keen to help women experiencing recurrent miscarriage, with tests and treatments available to address this distressing problem. Once women have conceived he is then able to offer private pregnancy care London wide, covering the delivery and postnatal care as well.