Pregnancy care
Key points
- Prior to modern medicine, many mothers and their babies did not survive pregnancy and the birth process.
- Women who choose to have an Abortion usually do so in the very early stages of the pregnancy (usually before 12 weeks gestation).
- Women who are considering becoming pregnant, or who are pregnant, should eat a balanced diet and take a vitamin and mineral supplement that includes at least 0.4 milligrams (400 micrograms) of Folic acid.
- Weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and fetal heart tones (as appropriate) are usually measured and recorded at each visit, and routine urine screening tests are performed.
Information
Prior to modern medicine, many mothers and their babies did not survive pregnancy and the birth process. Today, good prenatal care can significantly improve the quality of the pregnancy and the outcome for the infant and mother.
Good prenatal care includes:
- Good nutrition and health habits before and during pregnancy
- Frequent prenatal examinations to detect early problems
- Routine ultrasounds to detect fetal abnormalities and problems
- Routine screening for:
o Sexually transmitted diseases
o Rubella immunity
o Blood type problems (Rh and ABO)
o Diabetes
o Genetic disorders - if there is a family history or the age of the mother indicates the need
o Blood pressure abnormalities
o Urine protein
Women who choose to have an Abortion usually do so in the very early stages of the pregnancy (usually before 12 weeks gestation). Abortion is legal through the 24th week of pregnancy. The Abortion procedure, however, becomes more difficult with advancing gestational age, and many providers do not perform pregnancy terminations in the second trimester.
Women who plan to continue a pregnancy to term need to choose a health care provider who will provide prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum services. Provider choices in most communities include:
- physicians specializing in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN)
- certified nurse midwives (CNMs)
- some family practice physicians
- some family nurse practitioners (FNPs) or physician assistants (PAs) who work in conjunction with a physician
Family health care providers, or generalists, are proficient in managing women throughout normal pregnancies and deliveries. If a problem in the pregnancy is identified, a generalist will refer the patient to obstetric specialist.
The goals of prenatal care are to:
- monitor both the pregnant woman and the fetus throughout the pregnancy
- identify anything that could change the outlook for the pregnancy from normal to high-risk
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.