Prenatal care is the care that is given to you while you are pregnant. In Guyana this care may be provided by a doctor or a midwife. Nearly one third of all pregnant women will have some kind of pregnancy related complication. The goal of prenatal care is to monitor the progress of pregnancy and to identify potential problems before they become serious for the mother or the baby.
All expectant mothers benefit from prenatal care. Women who receive regular prenatal care have healthier babies, are less likely to deliver prematurely and are less likely to have other serious problems related to pregnancy.
During prenatal visits the prenatal care provider:-
1. Educates the mother about pregnancy.
2. Monitors pre-existing medical conditions the mother may have such as high blood pressure.
3. Tests for problems with baby.
4. Tests for new health problems in the woman such as gestational diabetes.
At what stage of pregnancy should a woman start accessing prenatal care?
Ideally, it’s best to see your doctor or other prenatal care provider even before you become pregnant. This is called a preconception visit and at this visit some issues and concerns can be addressed, such as a family history of a health disorder, etc.
Failing the above, as soon as the woman thinks she may be pregnant is the time to make the first appointment with your prenatal care provider.
What is a typical prenatal care schedule?
For a low-risk woman with a normally progressing pregnancy, a typical prenatal care schedule could be:
– Weeks 4 to 28 – 1 visit per month (every 4 weeks)
– Weeks 28 to 36 – 2 visits per month (every 2-3 weeks)
– Weeks 36 to birth – 1 visit per week
A woman with a chronic medical condition or a high-risk pregnancy may have to see her prenatal care provider more often.
At the first visit, your prenatal care provider should do the following:
– Take a careful history about your health, your partner’s health and the health of your close family members.
– Identify medical problems.
– Discuss any medications you are taking.
– Do a physical exam (may not include a pelvic exam)
– Weigh you.
– Check your blood pressure.
– Do some blood and urine tests.
You may be asked if you want a test for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
– Possibly do a Pap smear
– Calculate when your baby is due.
– Possibly do an ultrasound examination to rule out problems that can be picked up early.
– Prescribe Folic Acid (first 3 months or prenatal vitamins after the first 3 months).
The importance of the HIV test
This is provided at no cost to the patient, at prenatal care clinics which are implementing the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV programme. It identifies women who will need the medication which reduces the chances of transmitting the virus from the mother to the baby. This medication is administered when the patient is in labour.
At subsequent prenatal visits, the antenatal care provider should:
– Weigh you.
– Check your blood pressure.
– Measure your belly to determine whether your baby is growing as it should.
– Feel your abdomen for the baby’s position later in pregnancy.
– Do any tests necessary such as blood tests or an ultrasound.
– Check baby’s heartbeat.
– Discuss the benefits of breast feeding.
How much weight gain is normal in
pregnancy?
About 25 to 30 pounds is considered normal weight gain. If you are very heavy when you get pregnant, you may need to gain only 15 to 18 pounds.
Pregnancy is not a good time to diet. A weight gain of about 1 pound per week is recommended after 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Diet in pregnancy
One of the most important things for the benefit of both mother and baby is a balanced diet.
There are a few things that one should not eat when pregnant:
– Meats, eggs and fish that are not fully cooked can cause an infection.
– Do not eat fish like shark as such fish may have high levels of mercury which could harm the baby.
– Do not consume any alcohol as even small amounts may cause problems for the baby.
Vitamins
– Folic Acid is recommended in the first 3 months of pregnancy and can prevent problems with the baby’s brain and spinal cord.
– It is best to start Folic Acid even before a woman becomes pregnant (pre and peri-conception)
– After the first 3 months a prenatal vitamin supplement may be used without adding any other vitamins or minerals.
Medicines
It is better to check with your doctor before taking any medicines. Even medicines you can buy without a prescription can cause birth defects, especially when taken during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
Work and the pregnant woman
If at work you are exposed to radiation, lead and other heavy metals, it could be damaging to the baby. Working in front of a computer screen does not harm the unborn baby. A normal workload does not affect an uncomplicated pregnancy. Some high risk patients may be advised to stop working.
Exercise and pregnant women
Once you do not have any problems in your pregnancy, you can probably do whatever exercise you did before you got pregnant.
Being active will make you feel better. Overdoing the exercise is bad. If you can’t talk easily while exercising, you are working too hard. Avoid getting overheated. Be sure to drink plenty of water. It is also best to avoid anything that could make you fall, such as water skiing.
In conclusion
Women should remember that pregnancy is physiological and not an illness. However, if a woman gets regular prenatal care she avoids many small complications, confusion at the time of delivery as to the maturity of the baby, and some serious life-threatening complications, both for herself and her baby.
