Family Health History for Pregnancy

Every time you’ve seen a new doctor, he or she has likely asked you about your family medical history, from your grandfather's diabetes to your aunt's depression. You can expect to get that same question from the practitioner who’s following your pregnancy at a preconception appointment or your first prenatal visit.

Having an understanding of your family health history is critical. Knowing this information helps your practitioner take proactive steps that ensure you have the healthiest pregnancy possible.

Why is family health history important?

While only you and your partner had an active role in making that miraculous baby of yours, many other people play a part in shaping his life. 

Your family health history is a record of any health treatments or conditions experienced by you, your partner or your families that could potentially affect the health of your pregnancy or your baby.

Many health conditions have a genetic component, so your practitioner will want to know whether certain conditions run in your family in order to evaluate your pregnancy risks, if any. 

For example, if your mom had a pregnancy-related condition like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia or prenatal depression, you’re statistically more likely to experience it too. Your doctor will advise you on how to reduce your risk and keep an extra close lookout so he or she can diagnose and manage it early on, if necessary. 

If birth defects, developmental disabilities or genetic defects run in your family, your doctor may want to screen for those in your baby as well. Your practitioner may refer you to a genetic counselor to understand how these conditions run in families and your particular risks.

How do I find my family health history?

You may already be familiar with the health history of close blood relatives like your parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, grandparents and great-grandparents. Don’t worry about relatives who aren’t related by blood, like step-parents. Review the form below and fill it out the best you can. 

Next, send a copy to your parents and other family members, asking them to fill in pertinent details you may not have known about. If a family member isn’t comfortable sharing detailed health information, it’s understandable — have a heart-to-heart and explain why this information is helpful. 

Don’t know much about a relative who has died? You may be able to get more information by asking the state health department for the death certificate and requesting health records from the hospital and providers who treated him or her.

If you can’t get someone to divulge information, if you’re adopted and aren’t in contact with your birth family, or if you aren’t able to get in touch with your child’s other parent, don’t stress. Just fill in as many details available to you.

Family health history form and questions

To complete this family health history form, write down the relationship of the family member(s) who have or had any of the conditions noted. Bring this list with you to your first practitioner visit.

• Have you, your partner or anyone in your family or your partner's family had:
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Heart disease
  • Autoimmune disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc.)
  • Kidney disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Psychiatric disorders
  • Hepatitis
  • Depression
  • Thyroid disease
  • Preeclampsia
  • Difficult labor
• Are there any genetic conditions in your family or your partner's, such as:
  • Down syndrome
  • Any chromosomal abnormality
  • Neural tube defects, including spina bifida, meningocele and anencephaly
  • Hemophilia
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Connective tissue disease
  • Neurological disorders
  • Intellectual disabilities or autism
    • If yes, was the person tested for fragile X syndrome?
  • Tay-Sachs disease
  • Thalassemia
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU)
  • Hearing loss
  • Canavan disease
  • Huntington's disease 
  • Other genetic disorders
• Are there any sets of fraternal twins or other multiples in your family?
• Are there any allergies in your family, including food allergies?
• Has anyone in your family had recurrent miscarriages or stillbirths?
• Has there been a history of violence, trauma or physical, sexual, or emotional abuse in your family, or in your relationship?
• Was your mother given diethylstilbestrol (DES) when she was pregnant with you?

If later on you remember something you forgot to mention, or if a family member is diagnosed with a new health condition, be sure to let your practitioner know.