If you’re planning to get pregnant or your home pregnancy test gave you a happy plus sign, the first thing you need to do is schedule an appointment with your doctor. Proper prenatal care (before birth) is important for your health as well as your baby’s. Ideally, prenatal care should start at least three months before you begin trying to conceive.
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Once you are pregnant, it becomes even more important. Prenatal care involves treatment and training to ensure a healthy pregnancy, and labor and delivery of a healthy baby. It helps reduce the risks of complications during pregnancy. Regular prenatal visits allow your doctor to identify any problems or complications before they become serious. In fact, lack of prenatal care increases the chance of your baby having a low birth weight, which also increases the risk of infant death.
Visit Doctor Regularly
When you are pregnant, do not make the mistake of missing any appointments. There will be several appointments with your doctor before your due date. Usually, you may have to visit your doctor every month during the first six months of pregnancy, every two weeks in the seventh and eighth months, and every week during your ninth month. During these visits, your doctor will check your health and the health of your baby by monitoring your blood pressure, measuring your weight gain and monitoring the baby’s growth and heart rate. You doctor may also do routine tests and screenings, such as a blood test to check for anemia. When visiting your doctor, feel free to talk about your health problems or concerns and anything that you may want to know about pregnancy and childbirth.
Take Supplements
During the prenatal stage, your doctor may prescribe certain supplements. These supplements are essential and you should take them as directed by your doctor. During pregnancy, your body needs a lot of nutrients that a healthy diet cannot meet. Hence, supplements are recommended. Usually iron or folic acid supplements as well as prenatal vitamins are prescribed. Folic acid is necessary to prevent neural tube defects, and iron supports the baby’s overall growth. A proper iron level improves birth weight and reduces the risk of low birth weight. A 2011 study published in Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology suggests that periconceptional folic acid supplementation protects against fetal structural anomalies, including neural tube defects and congenital heart defects. The study also suggests it may protect against preterm birth. Another 2011 study published in Epidemiology reports that women who reported not taking a daily prenatal vitamin immediately before and during the first month of pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder as compared to women who did take the supplements. Take supplements as prescribed by your doctor, and do not take over-the-counter medications or herbal remedies without first consulting your doctor.
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