Becoming pregnant can be an exciting time in a woman’s life. There is a multitude of questions that will arise with this momentous news. Having prenatal care is one of the most important things to think about when you learn that you are pregnant.
Prenatal care is the care for your expected baby and for yourself during pregnancy. Regular visits with your obstetrician or another provider can help to monitor for unexpected health issues during pregnancy. Proper prenatal care is the most important thing that a woman can do to reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy and reduce the risk of birth defects.
The first visit with your obstetrician is generally at eight weeks after conception. Thereafter, visits are scheduled monthly until the baby is 28 weeks of gestation, then every two weeks until the baby is 36 weeks of gestation and then weekly until delivery.
Prenatal visits are the perfect time to discuss your health including medical history, preexisting conditions, medications taken and family history. Your healthcare provider will guide you on multiple topics to help you and your baby stay safe during your pregnancy. These topics include the right foods to eat, ways to stay active and a healthy amount of weight to gain during pregnancy. Visits generally consist of how you are feeling, taking blood and urine tests as well as imaging of the baby in the womb. When needed, your provider will discuss resources for obtaining nutritious food during pregnancy and after delivery through organizations like Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
During these visits, you will discuss your birth plan. Things like the location for delivery, who you might want for support in the room during delivery, how to manage pain during childbirth, who you might want to help you make important decisions during childbirth and how you plan on feeding your baby after delivery. You might even need to discuss your emotional well-being, as women are at higher risk of depression, during pregnancy.
Prenatal visits are also a time to discuss the selection of a pediatric provider for your newborn after delivery.
Indeed, pregnancy can be an exciting time, but it also can cause undue concerns that can be handled by you and your prenatal provider.
Information provided by Scott Holland, MD, pediatrician at UT Health East Texas Physicians in Pittsburg. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit uthealtheasttexasdoctors.com/provider/scott-holland-md.