Having a healthy and happy pregnancy is ideal. To help get you towards the healthiest pregnancy possible, consideration needs to be given to the various prenatal services available. We aren’t just talking about taking a one-a-day prenatal vitamin. There is more that is needed for your pregnancy journey to be as smooth as possible for your specific situation or circumstances.
What prenatal services are available?
Partaking in prenatal care doesn’t just happen from your first ultrasound. If you are planning on getting pregnant or if you think you may be pregnant, it is time to start looking into prenatal care for your health as well as the health of the baby. This includes regular prenatal appointments with your medical team, prenatal testing, ultrasounds to analyze various growth factors and other medical screenings to keep you and baby happy, healthy and safe.
Should any situation arise where your prenatal appointment shows an anomaly or potential issue, the medical team will be able to get you the help you need, when you need it. They can refer you to the correct maternal-fetal medicine practitioner to get any condition or symptom under control. Having timely referrals is why attending appointments starting right at the beginning of pregnancy is so important.
What if any problems pop up?
Unfortunately, not every pregnancy is smooth sailing. There could be underlying medical conditions with the mother or baby or perhaps high-risk situations that arise. This is when having prenatal care throughout the entire pregnancy becomes incredibly important. Having a medical team who understands you and your physical and mental health inside and out can only benefit the care you receive.
You will likely already be aware of any bodily change you have as they happen. Your medical team will be able to act quickly and accordingly when you flag any changes. The additional screenings, appointments and ultrasounds you have with the team will also aid in catching any problems that may arise throughout the pregnancy. For ultrasounds, you may have various screenings throughout the pregnancy, and the medical team will check out the baby’s anatomy, growth and other biophysical markers. With this helpful information from ultrasounds, the medical team can then suggest further screenings or tests that may be needed.
Besides keeping an eye on the baby, the doctors will also be ensuring that you are healthy and comfortable. They can check for any infections or other conditions that may pop up, such as gestational diabetes. The blood work and tests you get during the prenatal care visits will help the medical team keep a close eye on everything needed for a safe pregnancy.
Sure, taking daily prenatal vitamins is an important part of prenatal care. But even more important is having a trustworthy medical team that you can count on to have you and your baby’s health as a top priority. This team should be easily contactable and offer you the best prenatal service for your specific needs. Always have an open line of communication with the team so that you are fully prepared for what is coming during every step of your pregnancy journey.