On Prenatal Care And Its Importance In Women’s Health

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Published on January 18, 2022, 10:08 am
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One of the best strategies to ensure a healthy birth is to have a good pregnancy. Getting prenatal treatment early and on a regular basis increases the odds of a safe pregnancy. With a pre-pregnancy visit to a health care practitioner, this care can begin even before conception.

Pre-Pregnancy Care

A pre-pregnancy checkup can assist women in taking steps toward a healthy pregnancy even before they become pregnant.

Before becoming pregnant, women can help to promote a healthy pregnancy and birth of a healthy baby by doing the following steps:

  1. Make a plan for how they will reproduce.
  2. Increase their folic acid (a B vitamin) intake to at least 400 micrograms per day.
  3. Make sure they are up to date on their immunizations.
  4. Maintain diabetes and other medical conditions under control.
  5. Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or take drugs.
  6. Achieve a healthy body weight.
  7. Find out about their family’s medical history as well as their partner’s.
  8. Seek help if you are suffering from depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses.

Prenatal Care

Women who think they might be pregnant should make an appointment with their doctor to start prenatal care. A physical exam, weight checks, and a urine sample are routinely included in prenatal visits to a health care practitioner. Blood tests and imaging tests, such as ultrasound exams, may be performed depending on the stage of the pregnancy. During these sessions, the mother’s health, the health of the fetus, and any pregnancy-related questions are discussed.

Pre-pregnancy and prenatal care can help women avoid difficulties and learn about crucial steps they can take to safeguard their baby and have a successful pregnancy. Women who receive regular prenatal care can:

  • Reduce the chances of difficulties during pregnancy. Following a healthy, safe diet, exercising regularly as directed by a health care practitioner, and avoiding potentially dangerous substances like lead and radiation can help reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy and support fetal health and development. It is critical to keep existing conditions under control, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, in order to avoid catastrophic complications and their consequences.
  • Reduce the risk of problems for the pregnancy and newborn. The use of tobacco and alcohol during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Alcohol consumption also raises the chance of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which can result in a number of issues including atypical facial characteristics, a small head, poor coordination, poor memory, intellectual incapacity, and heart, kidney, and bone problems. These and other long-term problems can arise even with low amounts of prenatal alcohol consumption, according to a recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
  • Furthermore, eating 400 micrograms of folic acid per day lowers the chance of neural tube abnormalities by 70%. The recommended 400 micrograms of folic acid, as well as other vitamins for pregnant women and their developing fetus, are found in most prenatal supplements. Foods containing folic acid have been added to cereals, breads, pasta, and other grain-based foods. Despite the presence of a comparable form (named folate) in orange juice and leafy green foods (such as kale and spinach), folate is not as effectively absorbed as folic acid.
  • Assist in ensuring the safety of the medications women use. Certain drugs, such as some acne treatments and nutritional and herbal supplements, should not be taken by pregnant women because they can harm the fetus.

Get additional information on prenatal and pre-pregnancy care by visiting EMU OB-GYN Gynecologists Center Queens, (EMU).

EMU provides a full range of services to meet the health needs of women throughout their lives. Their board-certified, highly trained, experienced physicians understand the unique needs of women. In addition to providing comprehensive women’s health maintenance and exams, their doctors also provide specialized services, including menopause care, cervical screenings, STD & contraceptive counseling, family planning, HPV, fertility and much more.

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Address:

EMU OB-GYN Gynecologists Center Queens
8340 Woodhaven Boulevard, Ste. 4
Glendale, NY 11385

Tel.: 929-299-6121

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Jonas Bronck is the pseudonym under which we publish and manage the content and operations of The Bronx Daily.™ | Bronx.com - the largest daily news publication in the borough of "the" Bronx with over 1.5 million annual readers. Publishing under the alias Jonas Bronck is our humble way of paying tribute to the person, whose name lives on in the name of our beloved borough.