Women had babies for thousands of years before anyone thought they might need some assistance. In the past few decades, we have learned more and more that what happens before and during a womans pregnancy has a profound impact on the health and future well being of a child. Following is a brief discussion of some of the basic aspects of routine prenatal (prior to birth) care.

Before you become pregnant

Prenatal care is most effective when started before conception. Women should quit smoking, drinking alcohol and using drugs before getting pregnant. These substances can harm the fetus before a woman even knows she is pregnant. For example, alcohol is the number one cause of preventable birth defects in the U.S. and smoking is the number one preventable cause of low-birth-weight babies.

Vaccinations against common childhood diseases, especially rubella, should be up to date before conception. Birth defects may occur if certain diseases are contracted during pregnancy and transmitted to the baby. All women who may get pregnant should also take folate (one of the B-complex vitamins) supplements to reduce the risk of certain birth defects like spina bifida.

Additionally, women with medical conditions should consult their physician about the risks of pregnancy based on their disease and any medication that is being taken, as some medications may cause birth defects in the growing fetus. Remember that most activities, such as work, exercise, and sex, can continue normally as long as they are not overly stressful (for example, three hours a day of high-impact aerobics is probably not a good idea during pregnancy).

When you are pregnant

Once you suspect you may be pregnant, it is recommended that you make an appointment to see the physician who will be involved with your prenatal care  usually an Obstetrician/Gynecologist. You can either confirm your pregnancy status first with an over-the-counter pregnancy test or have your doctor do a pregnancy test in his or her office.

Once it is determined that you are pregnant, several basic tests are done. This usually involves blood and urine tests, a full physical exam (including a Pap smear if due), and possibly other tests based on your medical and social history.

Subsequent visits are usually done every four to six weeks until about seven months into the pregnancy, when visits usually are scheduled more frequently. At every visit, your weight will be recorded, your blood pressure measured, your urine collected for routine testing and your belly examined and measured to see how the babys growth is progressing.

At around three months, the babys heartbeat can be heard using a special ultrasound probe and the rate will be measured. Other special tests may be done depending on your medical history and the findings from earlier visits.

For example, your doctor may want to look at the baby with an ultrasound machine, which can show some physical birth defects and often detect the childs sex. An ultrasound examination is painless and does not harm the child. Your doctor may also recommend that some amniotic fluid (the fluid from the bag of water that surrounds the child) be drawn from your uterus for further testing.

There are also certain symptoms during pregnancy that should be reported to your doctor. Morning sickness (which can occur at any time during the day) is common and not usually a problem, but if you are losing weight or unable to stop vomiting, inform your doctor.

If you have vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, vision changes or swelling in your hands (leg swelling is common and not generally of concern), inform your doctor. Do not hesitate to ask questions about symptoms that occur during pregnancy, as you will often be relieved to find that many women experience the same thing as a part of a normal, healthy pregnancy.

Lastly, you will want to establish a routine early in the pregnancy regarding what to do if you think you are going into labor. You may have occasional contractions weeks before your actual delivery and it will help you to know when true labor has started. Get a phone number to keep with you at all times for when your labor begins or you have any other emergency.

Most pregnancies are normal and proceed without any major complications. Routine prenatal care is still important, however, for education, disease screening, reassurance, and to monitor high-risk pregnancies. Remember, your childs health starts even before you get the news that youre pregnant!

 

 

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