Finding out you are pregnant is exciting news, often followed by many questions about what to expect and what comes next. As an OBGYN medical assistant I deal with prenatal patients all day long. Whether you are a first-time mom, or have multiple children, seeking prenatal care early in pregnancy is key to a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby.
Prenatal care is medical care for pregnant woman and is important for a healthy pregnancy. Its key components include regular checkups and prenatal testing, eating healthfully, exercising, and beginning as soon as one knows she is pregnant. A pregnancy can be filled with many joys and wonders as well as concerns and fears. It is important for the mother to take care of herself and her baby too, with prenatal care (Steinhoff, 2018).
Most pregnant women are otherwise healthy and prenatal care is aimed at monitoring the baby’s growth and the mother’s well-being. Any concerns or if the woman has previous health conditions will be carefully managed with both the mother’s and the baby’s health in mind. The importance of prenatal care is rooted in its efforts to ensure your safety by watching for risks and doing everything possible to increase your health and reduce the risk of serious complications both during the pregnancy and the birth (white rose women’s center).
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During a pregnancy, a woman should see her doctor about once each month for the first six months of pregnancy, then every two weeks for the seventh and eighth month of pregnancy, and then every week until her baby is born. However, if a woman is over 35 or has a pregnancy with high risks due to health problems, she would probably have to see her doctor more often. During prenatal visits, the practitioner will start by asking the pregnant woman how she was feeling and whether she has any complaints or worries.
The practitioner would also answer any questions the expected mother has. After that, the health care provider would check the pregnant woman’s weight, blood pressure, heart, lungs, breasts, and urine. The provider would then measure the woman’s abdomen, check the position of her baby, listen to her baby’s heartbeat, perform as many exams and order tests as needed, and closely monitor any complications the woman has or has developed.
At the end of the visit, the practitioner will review their findings with the expected mother, explain what normal changes to expect before her next visit and what warning signs to watch for. The provider would advise her about lifestyle issues, and discuss the pros and cons of optional tests that the expected mother might want to consider.
Eating properly can be the biggest struggle for expecting moms. Access to healthy food, changes in appetite and suffering from “morning sickness” can make it difficult for mom to get enough nutrients for optimal health. A nutritionist can help moms understand how to get the vitamins, minerals, and nutrition both she and her baby need. A well-balanced diet is very important for the health of the mother and the development of the fetus.
Raw or undercooked meat, eggs or fish should not be eaten. Lunch meats (deli meats) and hot dogs can be eaten after they have been heated until steaming. Soft cheeses should not be eaten. It is recommended mothers not eat more than two or three servings of fish, including canned, per week. Be sure to wash all fruits and vegetables and keep cutting boards and dishes clean.
Eat four or more servings of dairy products each day, which provide calcium. Try to minimize caffeine intake. One to two 8-ounce servings of coffee or caffeinated soda per day is probably ok but the amount of caffeine varies between products so check the labels and discuss with your doctor how much of the product is safe to consume.
This may seem obvious, but addictions are a very real part of our society and can cause serious fetal damage, including low birth weight, premature labor, or babies born with addictions. Telling your provider about any medications you’re taking, use of nicotine, alcohol or other substances will allow your doctor to create a plan for treatment and support.
It is recommended mothers-to-be take a prenatal vitamin daily, which includes folic acid. Folic acid can help prevent problems with your baby’s brain and spinal cord. Tylenol can be taken for headaches or mild pain according to the package instructions but the mom should check with her doctor about taking any other medicines, including over-the-counter medicines. Unless the mom-to-be has problems in her pregnancy, she can probably do whatever exercise she did before you got pregnant but discuss this with her doctor. Exercise can help ease discomfort during pregnancy.
Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. If the mom was not exercising prior to pregnancy, starting a walking program gradually is a good way to start. Swimming is also a good choice. It is not recommended to start exercising vigorously during pregnancy if she was not prior to pregnancy. If you have pain, cramping, blurry vision, dizziness, vaginal bleeding or leaking of vaginal fluid while exercising, she should call her doctor. Patients should talk to their doctor about any special conditions they may have.
They should drink plenty of water so that she doesn’t get dehydrated. It’s best to avoid anything that could cause a fall, such as water skiing or rock climbing. Also avoid contact sports such as basketball or soccer. Some women say exercising during pregnancy makes labor and delivery easier. Exercise during pregnancy has many benefits including, boosting the expected mother’s energy level, helping her sleep better, reducing pregnancy discomfort (such as backaches, bloating, swelling, or constipation), helping to prepare for childbirth, reducing stress and lifting her spirits, improving her self-image, helping prevent or treat gestational diabetes, and helping her in getting her body back faster after childbirth.
According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a pregnant woman should get 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise per day on most if not all days of the week unless she has medical or pregnancy complication. Most exercises are safe to perform during pregnancy, as long as the pregnant woman exercises with caution and does not overwork herself. Some types of exercises that are good during pregnancy are: swimming, brisk walking, stretching, golf, stationary cycling, and yoga.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, higher risk of death related to pregnancy has been found in women over 35 years of age, women who have borne five or more children, women who did not receive prenatal care, and Hispanic and black women. The single most important factor influencing neonatal mortality is birth weight. The rate of infant death increases significantly with decreasing birth weight for infants weighing less than 2500 grams.
As stated by, WomensHealth.com, “Babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care.” Also, while most pregnancies proceed perfectly normally – after all, women’s bodies were designed to be pregnant and give birth – your prenatal visits will detect any potential health concerns, such as anemia, gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia – which can be treated when caught early.
Keep in mind that during pregnancy it is not just the health of the pregnant woman that must be watched, but also the health of the unborn baby. Maternal difficulties such as diabetes (which can develop as a result of being pregnant even if diabetes was not present before), insufficient weight gain, and high blood pressure, if gone untreated, can be harmful to the fetus. A doctor can also monitor the baby’s well-being directly by listening to the fetal heartbeat, checking the size and positioning of the uterus and fetus, and testing for various abnormalities.
Some conditions, if detected prenatally, can be treated in-utero (i.e., before the baby is born). In other instances, early detection can allow the proper medical facilities to be present at the time of birth to allow the baby full access to the help it needs. It is very important to receive proper prenatal care in order to ensure the health of both you and your baby.
