Pregnancy needs special prenatal care for maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Prenatal care is the health care that you take during pregnancy.
Prenatal care can help observe the improvement of a pregnancy, recognize the problems in advance before they put you and your baby in danger.
In addition to these, it provides details about a healthy diet with all nutritional requirements for you and your baby. It also recommends do’s and don’ts during pregnancy.
Taking good prenatal careensures that you and your baby will be healthy throughout pregnancy. Prenatal care includes excellent nutrition and healthy habits during pregnancy, prenatal tests and ultrasound scans to notice early problems and fetal anomalies.
The first thing you should do when you become pregnant is making a prenatal care appointment with your health care provider.
Choosing a health care provider is very essential for a good prenatal care. Doctors can detect health problems in early stages with your regular check-ups. So, prefer a health care professional who provides prenatal care, delivery, and other necessary services.
While choosing a right doctor always consider specialization, certification and experience of the doctor.
On your first prenatal visit with your preferred health care professional, you will be asked to provide your present medical condition and medical history of your, your partner, and your family members.
Your doctor will perform pelvic exam, check your blood pressure, weigh your weight, do urine test, blood test, Pap smear for any infections or diseases, and trace the estimated date of pregnancy.
In prenatal care, it is essential to visit your doctor regularly. During regular check-ups, your doctor teaches you about pregnancy, monitors health condition, and he will test you for any problems with your health and the baby.
Your health care provider will measure and record your height of fundus (uterus), weight gain, blood pressure, and baby’s heartbeat at each visit. You also need to perform urine test screening regularly.
In general, prenatal visits are programmed on monthly basis for the first 28 weeks of gestation, bi-weekly from 28-36 weeks, and weekly from 36 weeks to delivery.
If you have any chronic medical problem then you need to consult your health care professional more frequently than a healthy pregnant woman. Try not to miss any appointment with your health care professional.
On the other hand, prenatal care also includes healthy diet that is very essential for you and your baby. Always avoid eating uncooked or raw food.
Make sure that you are not taking caffeine products regularly such as sodas, tea, chocolates, etc. Also avoid drinking coffee more than two cups a day.
Also, avoid drug intake, alcohol consumption, or cigarette smoking because all these can affect your fetus growth.
Except the medication that was prescribed by your prenatal health care provider, you should not take any other medication. Take prenatal supplements that contain required amount of folic acid, iron, and calcium as per the prescription given by your doctor.
So, it is true that following a good prenatal care can provide a healthy pregnancy!
