Prenatal care is also called as antenatal care, and it is a type of preventive healthcare. Prenatal care is so important for healthy childbirth. Prenatal care provides you with help to keep you and your baby healthy throughout your pregnancy, and after that. It also treats health problems throughout the course of the pregnancy and to promote a healthy life. Babies of women who do not get any prenatal care may face many troubles and heath issue. Most of the women have a low birth weight baby and maybe five times more likely to die than those baby who born to mothers who do get care. Getting early and regular prenatal care can provide the chances of a healthy pregnancy. So Women who suspect they may be pregnant should call or visit their health care provider to start their prenatal care. Prenatal care may include a physical exam, weight checks, and suggesting a urine sample. As per the stage of the pregnancy, you may be suggested for ultrasound exams etc.
What Can Lack Prenatal Care Cause?
It is observed that most of the women who do not receive prenatal care have an increased risk of experiencing a neonatal death, especially if they deliver at or after 36 weeks’ gestation. The most important time of prenatal development or care because at this time, the embryo is developing the foundations for a healthy baby. You should schedule a prenatal appointment as soon as you know you are pregnant!
What will happen during the follow-up prenatal care appointments?
During your follow-up prenatal care visits, your doctor will examine you to ensure your pregnancy is developing well, and also check you and the fetus are healthy. And she or he may be suggested for tests.
During prenatal care visits, your doctor may:
- Ask your past medical history
- check your urine
- check your body weight and blood pressure
- check for swelling if you have
- touch and feel your belly to check the position of your fetus
- measure the growth of your belly
- listen to the fetal heartbeat
What Is Prenatal Testing?
Prenatal tests are different procedure may differ from one woman to another woman. This testing is done to make sure you and the fetus are healthy. Some prenatal tests find birth defects and other problems.
Some common prenatal tests include
- Ultrasound
- Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling
- CVS — chorionic villus sampling
- Amniocentesis
What Changes Happen To Your Body In Early Pregnancy?
Your body makes extra blood during the pregnancy, and your body develops extra pregnancy hormones to meet the needs of pregnancy. Tenderness breasts, and legs to become more noticeable. You may feel and notice some signs of early pregnancy due to these increased level of hormones (estrogen and progesterone) in the body.
What is Early Pregnancy Symptoms?
The topmost early signs and symptoms of pregnancy might include as below:
- Missed period
- Tender, swollen breasts
- Morning sickness
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Mood swing
- Increased urination
- Fatigue
- Spotting
- Increase in Body Temperature
- Feel smell from some foods
