Whether you are trying to conceive or have already given birth, there are some things that you need to know about how critical prenatal care is. Taking care of yourself will ensure a healthy pregnancy and that your baby has a better chance of developing well. Prenatal care is also essential because it can help prevent the development of congenital disabilities in your baby and protect your baby from certain infections.
Prenatal care checks for anemia, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and other harmful infections
Having prenatal care is essential to ensure a healthy pregnancy. It includes a physical examination, blood tests, weight checks, and other medical tests. It also provides you with information about pregnancy risks.
Prenatal care, like some services at prenatal care Silver Spring MD can also help you detect developmental problems early. Some problems include low birth weight, learning disorders, and neurological disorders. It can also prevent infections that can hurt your baby.
Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy. It occurs most often in the first pregnancy. It is associated with increased blood pressure. If you have this problem, you may need hospitalization or medications. You may also experience high protein in your urine.
High blood pressure can lead to strokes and other dangerous seizures. It can also slow fetal growth. It can also cause preterm delivery.
Anemia is a condition with a low amount of red blood cells. This can occur because you need to consume more folic acid or iron. Your doctor may prescribe iron supplements or a prenatal vitamin.
Prenatal care improves fetal and maternal outcomes
Increasing access to prenatal care has improved birth outcomes for low-income women. Specifically, increasing access to prenatal care has been shown to reduce the percentage of low birth-weight babies. This translates into increased human capital development for the infant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that two-thirds of maternal deaths occur during childbirth. However, the remainder of maternal deaths occurs at other times. This may be because prenatal care is often overlooked.
A large body of research suggests various ways to improve maternal health. The best approach may be to create an integrated, contextually-based strategy. Some strategies include increasing access to prenatal care, implementing community-based intervention packages, and improving patient experience. All have the potential to reduce costs, increase patient satisfaction, and improve outcomes.
One of the first steps toward creating an integrated, contextually-based strategy is to measure and improve prenatal care quality. This can be done through health insurance claims data. This data can capture the critical components of prenatal care, such as visits and screenings.
Prenatal care involves hearing your baby’s heartbeat
During prenatal care, healthcare providers listen to the baby’s heart rate. This information helps them detect changes in the fetal heart rate and other conditions that may affect the baby’s health. It also allows them to intervene.
A health professional will check the baby’s weight and blood pressure during prenatal care visits. They may also check for any signs of gestational diabetes or chromosomal disorders. A complete physical exam is also performed.
Healthcare providers may also check the baby’s heart rate during prenatal care visits using a Doppler machine. These devices bounce sound waves off a ticker to simulate the fetal heart rate. They may also check for edema, a sign that indicates the development of preeclampsia, a condition that may cause premature delivery.
The quality of prenatal care is a matter of concern to both mothers and healthcare providers. Studies have explored the quality of care in different populations and settings.
Prenatal care protects against pertussis
Vaccination during pregnancy is a significant way to protect your baby against pertussis, one of the most contagious diseases in the world. Pertussis can cause severe infections in infants and adults. It is particularly harmful in young babies, who are most at risk of developing severe complications.
Several studies have shown that babies born to a vaccinated mother have a reduced risk of developing pertussis in the first week of life. A recent study in the US has shown that women vaccinated during pregnancy are more protected against pertussis than unvaccinated women.
A study in the UK also found that infants born to vaccinated mothers had less pertussis at a young age. However, the vaccine should have been more effective.
The number of cases of pertussis has been rising in the UK over the last few years. In 2012, the annual laboratory-confirmed cases rate was 240 per 100,000. This was the highest rate reported in more than two decades.
