If you are pregnant, then it is important for you to make sure that you do everything you can to ensure that you stay as healthy as possible throughout the pregnancy and that you help to give your baby the best and healthiest start possible. This is why you are going to want to be sure you get prenatal care starting from the moment you first realize you are pregnant and throughout the entire pregnancy. You can learn more about the importance of prenatal care by reading the rest of this information:
Reasons why prenatal care is so important
There are many reasons why prenatal care is so important. When you receive regular care, the doctor will be able to monitor you in order to make sure the pregnancy is going well and that you are remaining healthy. Your vitals will be taken at each appointment, which can indicate whether certain things are going well or if there may be an issue with something that requires further testing, such as preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is a condition in which you may experience high blood pressure that can become extremely dangerous. Finding this condition as early as possible is important because the doctor can monitor you closely and decrease the chances of the condition causing serious problems for you and/or your baby.
The doctor will also monitor the development of the baby through feeling and measuring your stomach, as well as by taking blood samples and doing ultrasounds. Ultrasounds can be very helpful when it comes to monitoring the development of the baby because the ultrasound allows your doctor to see the baby in the womb, including seeing the heartbeat. Some problems can be treated during the pregnancy, and knowing about others before the birth can be very important. The ultrasound also plays an important role in determining the due date.
Things that may be done at your prenatal appointments
Along with the things that have already been mentioned in the above information, you also want to know what else can happen when you go to your prenatal appointments. At your appointments, the doctor can answer any questions you have regarding what to expect during the pregnancy and birth. They will also prescribe you any medications or supplements they want you to take, such as prenatal vitamins. They will also discuss your lab results and your ultrasound findings with you. They will measure your stomach to determine the approximate size of the baby and monitor your weight. The doctor can also help you to decide on a birthing plan at your appointment, and they can recommend certain professionals to you they feel may also be helpful, such as Lamaze instructors.