Breaking the News: Choosing Who to Tell—and When—After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Women are intentional about planning their lives, including their pregnancies, and OB/GYNs encourage their patients to make preconception appointments from three months to a year before becoming pregnant.

Preconception appointments provide time to

• Review medical and behavioral health history, including family history
• Identify and treat any health concerns like high blood pressure
• Make sure vaccinations and preventive care are up to date
• Discuss lifestyle changes to support a healthy pregnancy
• Learn about the care you can expect while pregnant

“These visits establish a health baseline before pregnancy happens,” said Wellstar OB/GYN Dr. Joy Baker. “We can optimize women’s health by addressing potential health issues and making lifestyle changes to benefit them and their babies.”

If pregnancy is in your future, this guide will help you know what to expect from a preconception appointment and how to prepare.

Why schedule a preconception visit

Preconception appointments are important for future mothers of all ages. They’re especially useful if you’re over 30 or have a chronic health condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity.

More than half of all live births in the United States from 2022 to 2024 were to women 30 and over, according to March of Dimes. Fertility—or the ability to become pregnant—declines in the 30s and 40s. Statistics also show risks increase for mothers 35 and older for complications in pregnancy. Those risks include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and cesarean births (C-sections).

“With modern medicine, we can treat patients who are having fertility issues and safely support older pregnancies,” Dr. Baker said. “Knowing the risks and addressing them before pregnancy prepares us to guide and care for our patients and their families.”

In some cases, preconception tests can detect potential heart or thyroid conditions, or a risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy or later.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can also affect mental health. At the preconception appointment, a clinician will ask you about any history of depression or anxiety, support networks, and stress at work or at home.

Another benefit of the appointment is the opportunity to meet the physician who may be caring for you during an exciting period of your life.

“I love that patients can interview me at preconception appointments,” said Dr. Baker. “They can get to know me. At the same time, I’m able to check blood test results and do any health optimization needed before becoming pregnant.”

What happens during and after a preconception appointment

The appointment will include questions about you and your partner’s medical histories, including family history and ethnicity. Many genetic conditions, like sickle cell disease and Tay-Sachs disease, are more common in people from certain ethnic groups.

Your OB/GYN may schedule tests to check your iron levels, blood sugar, blood pressure and heart health. They’ll want your vaccine record and may ask you to complete any missed vaccines or preventive screenings.

Bring a list of prescription or over-the-counter medicines you take, including any vitamins or nutritional supplements. Your physician will recommend taking folic acid as a supplement or as part of a multivitamin, even before becoming pregnant. Folic acid is a B vitamin that can help protect against congenital brain and spinal cord conditions.

What lifestyle changes can prepare you for a healthy pregnancy?

According to Dr. Baker, weight and lifestyle are other topics at the preconception appointment. Overweight or obese patients are at a higher risk of developing complications in pregnancy. Your OB/GYN will advise you on good nutrition and how much weight is healthy to gain during pregnancy based on your height and weight.

If you use tobacco or alcohol, your care team will talk to you about the risks and how to make changes that will help you and your baby. Regular exercise is important as patients prepare for and experience pregnancy and labor.

Questions to bring to a preconception appointment

Your preconception appointment will give you time to get to know your OB/GYN and ask any questions you have.

Some suggested questions include

• What happens if I don’t become pregnant?
• Do I have any health conditions that may affect my ability to become pregnant or have a healthy baby?
• When should I schedule an appointment after I become pregnant?
• What tests can I expect to have during pregnancy, and what do they check for?
• How often will I see you during pregnancy?
• Will I see other clinicians in the practice when I’m pregnant?
• How should I contact your office with questions or if I’m worried about something?
• Under what circumstances should I go directly to the Emergency Department?
• What happens as my delivery time nears?

Learn more about maternal and fetal medicine at Wellstar

If you’re thinking about starting or growing your family, schedule a preconception visit with a Wellstar OB/GYN to talk through your health, goals and next steps.

Wellstar has advanced care for patients before, during and after pregnancy. Learn more about our specialties in

• Cardio Obstetrics
• Maternal Fetal Medicine (high-risk pregnancies)
• Obstetric Emergency Department
• Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility

Preeclampsia is a rare but serious complication of pregnancy. It’s also a warning sign for women to be vigilant about heart health throughout their lives.

Many assume the health risk posed by preeclampsia goes away after delivery, but having preeclampsia requires close follow-up care even beyond the postpartum period.

“If you have ever had preeclampsia, it becomes another risk factor for the development of vascular disease, even 20 to 30 years down the road,” said Dr. Mindy Gentry, a Wellstar cardiologist who specializes in heart disease during pregnancy.

The good news is that when you know, you can act.

What is preeclampsia and who is at risk?

Preeclampsia affects more than the heart. It can affect the placenta, blood vessels, kidneys and liver. It can also cause serious complications in the brain, lungs, blood system and eyes.

Women 35 and older who are pregnant have an increased risk of developing preeclampsia. So do women who are overweight or obese, and those who have diabetes or high blood pressure.

The chief warning signs for preeclampsia are sudden elevated blood pressure, significant leg swelling and shortness of breath.

Preeclampsia symptoms include

• Abdominal pain
• Blurred vision, or flashing spots or auras
• Burning sensation in the chest
• Sudden elevated blood pressure
• Confusion
• Headaches
• Leg swelling
• Heightened anxiety
• Nausea and vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Oversensitivity to light

Short- and long-term health risks of preeclampsia

Pregnancy puts a strain on the cardiovascular system, which includes the heart, blood vessels and blood. Preeclampsia signals stress in that system or an underlying susceptibility. If you’ve had preeclampsia, you have a higher risk of complications after birth.

"We tend to get this false sense of security once the pregnancy is over and the woman has delivered, that they're in the clear. But providers must continue to watch women for even up to one year after birth," Dr. Gentry said.

Women who have had preeclampsia have three to four times the risk of high blood pressure and two times the risk for heart disease and stroke later in life, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation. They also have an increased risk of developing diabetes.

How to prevent preeclampsia

Preventing preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications starts before becoming pregnant.

“We encourage everyone who is planning a pregnancy to schedule an appointment with their OB/GYN for pre-pregnancy counseling. That’s particularly important if you have any kind of cardiac history or risk factors of significant cardiac issues,” Dr. Gentry said.

Preeclampsia most often happens 20 weeks or later into pregnancy. If a patient’s blood pressure suddenly shoots up, providers may recommend delivering early.

“Our goal is to follow patients and prevent them from getting to that point by controlling blood pressure during pregnancy,” Dr. Gentry said. “Hopefully, we can also prevent complications down the road.”

Follow-up care when you’ve had preeclampsia

Follow-up checklist from Dr. Gentry if you’ve had preeclampsia

• In the first six to 12 weeks after birth: Visit your OB/GYN for follow-up visits. Make an appointment with your primary care provider. Continue to monitor your blood pressure. Be on the lookout for any warning signs—the same ones you learned about during pregnancy.
• Within the first year after birth: See your primary care team and get a cardiovascular baseline reading that includes blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, height and weight.
• Look into cardiac care: It may be appropriate to add a cardiologist to your healthcare team. Your provider may recommend seeing a cardiologist if you continue to have high blood pressure or have risk factors such as a family history of heart disease, obesity or diabetes.

If you’ve had preeclampsia, it’s important to commit to a healthy lifestyle with

• Exercise
• Good nutrition
• Limited or no alcohol use
• No tobacco use
• Regular preventive care visits
• Weight management

Wellstar resources for expectant mothers

Wellstar has specialists in obstetrics and cardiology to care for patients before, during and after pregnancy:

• If you’re pregnant or thinking about having a child, find a Wellstar OB/GYN near you.
• Read heart health facts every mom should know.
• Wellstar has a Cardio Obstetrics Program with specialists in maternal and postpartum care.