Prenatal care is medical care and attention that is given to an expecting mother for her and her unborn baby. Risks associated with pregnancy are lessened for both mother and child when regular pre-natal care is received.

Some women don’t have easy access to medical care because of their location, education, lack of insurance or finances. You may need assistance in finding a provider in your area, and Many Hearts unplanned pregnancy counselors are happy to help you find appropriate care in your area.

Each pregnancy is unique, so it is important to see a medical professional so they can evaluate your pregnancy, identify any complications, and provide you with the correct care. Having prenatal care will prevent the likelihood of future complications during your pregnancy.

Receiving inadequate or no prenatal care can sometimes lead to scary outcomes:

• Your baby is 3 times more likely to have a low birthweight
• Your baby may experience a variety of health complications
• You may experience a variety of health complications during and after the pregnancy
• Your baby is 5 times more likely to die after birth
• You may have intensified existing health problems during and after the pregnancy
• You and your baby may have serious health concerns that go unnoticed or undiagnosed leading to complications and even death

There are three main things that prenatal care is designed to do for you and your baby:

1. Prenatal care will reduce your baby’s risk for complications before and after delivery.

Receiving prenatal care may include medications, monitoring, and doctor visits. This will allow a doctor to have a much higher chance of spotting issues early concerning your baby’s development so that the best possible treatment plan can be put in place.

This can include testing for illnesses in your baby and providing information to you on the best ways to ensure your baby stays healthy. For example, do not take any medication that the doctor hasn’t approved. And, stay away from alcohol and drugs while you are pregnant because they are extremely detrimental to the baby in your womb. Indulging in unprescribed medication, alcohol, or drugs would not give your baby the start to life that they deserve.

2. Prenatal care will reduce your risk of pregnancy complications.

As an expectant mother, you will also be facing risks during the pregnancy and delivery. Having a medical professional monitor your pregnancy will allow that professional to spot early signs of complications and create a plan of action. Depending on the complication, they may recommend a specific diet, exercise, bedrest, or medication plan as part of your prenatal care.

3. Prenatal care ensures that a woman’s medications, diet and lifestyle are safe for her and her baby.

Before you became pregnant it is possible that you were on some sort of medication for a condition. Receiving prenatal care will allow a doctor to assess your pregnancy, current medications, and needed medications. They will make adjustments as necessary.

Even Tylenol, a common pain reliever, should be approved by your doctor incase there are risks of taking that during your pregnancy. It is common for pregnant women to take specific, prenatal vitamins to nourish, support and promote the healthy growth of their baby. Your doctor will likely recommend specific vitamins and medications to take, medications to avoid, foods to eat, foods to avoid, exercise, rest, daily routine, and more.

Some women choose to not receive prenatal care because they continue smoking, drinking or using drugs, and they don’t want the doctor to tell them about the dangers. While this is true, they will educate you on the dangers, they can also help you by providing you with a smoking cessation plan, drug or alcohol rehabilitation options, methadone prescriptions, or other sources of help. Even if you don’t follow the doctor’s lifestyle recommendations, it is important to receive prenatal care anyway so you can plan for or avoid medical emergencies that could lead to some very serious complications for you or your baby.

The many benefits to prenatal care are amazing. If you are a first-time expecting mother, you probably have so many questions. Receiving prenatal care gives you a chance to sit down with a healthcare professional and ask as many questions as you want. They can explain what your pregnancy journey may look like including symptoms, feelings, and milestones.

Your first pre-natal visit should start about eight to ten weeks following your last menstrual period and all the way through to the end of pregnancy. The frequency in between visits will depend on any health conditions you might have. Regular visits will give you time to ask questions about labor and delivery as well. Oftentimes your doctor may be the one to create a medical delivery plan with you as well as be there for the delivery. This means that they can support you at every medical milestone of your pregnancy and through delivery.

Your doctor can give you updates on how your baby is doing developmentally. Listening to your baby’s heartbeat for the first time, or seeing your baby on the ultrasound screen or sonogram photo is incredible! Watching your baby’s development inside your womb is amazing. While an unplanned pregnancy isn’t always the happiest of times, these are the magical moments that you get to experience and that you’ll never forget. Whether you decide to parent or place for adoption, you are a mother that’s trying to give the best to your baby.

If you are in need of prenatal care and need help to find a physician, reach out to Many Hearts today!