Healthy Start - The Importance of Prenatal Care

Are you pregnant?

One of the first and best things that you can do for yourself and for your baby is to visit your health care provider right away to begin prenatal care check-ups. Studies have shown that babies born to mothers who have received prenatal care are more likely to be born healthier than those whose mothers did not. According to womenshealth.gov, compared to those who received prenatal care, babies born to mothers who did not get prenatal care during their pregnancies were three times more likely to have low birth weights. Low birth weight has been linked to several future issues, including language delays, learning problems, neurological problems, and attention disorders. Not only that, but the infant death rate is five times higher for babies who have not received prenatal care.

How often do you go for prenatal care checkups?

Unless it is a high-risk pregnancy, most pregnant women can follow a schedule like this:

• Weeks 4 to 28 of pregnancy - one checkup every 4 weeks
• Weeks 28 to 36 of pregnancy - one checkup every 2 weeks
• Weeks 36 to 41 of pregnancy – one checkup every week

What can you expect?

Prenatal care will be customized depending on your age and health. The initial appointment will include evaluation and testing in order to spot and treat any problems which may arise during the course of your pregnancy. Not only will you learn about proper nutrition for you and your baby during this time, but your provider will also help prepare you for labor and delivery. This established relationship with your provider will make it easier to communicate any problems or questions that may arise over the course of your pregnancy.

Your provider will also be able to establish whether extra precautions need to be taken, depending on your circumstances. The following factors may increase the risk of problems during pregnancy:

• Very young age
• Over age 35
• Overweight
• Underweight.
• Previous abnormal pregnancies
• Pregnancies with more than one baby
• Current or past health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, HIV, and autoimmune disorders. 

Give your baby the best chance of a healthy start by contacting your healthcare provider as soon as you know that you are pregnant.

Sources:

https://ntmconline.net/6-reasons-why-prenatal-care-is-important/

https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/planning-baby/prenatal-care-checkups

https://www.pbmchealth.org/news-events/blog/importance-prenatal-care