Pregnancy care — consisting of preconception care and postpartum (after birth) healthcare — is essential for soon-to-be mothers to ensure a healthy pregnancy, labor, and birth.
Comprehensive prenatal care is particularly beneficial — for example, using a doula for physical and emotional support during prenatal care reduces adverse birth outcomes while improving the health of both mother and baby, a study published in the Journal of Perinatal Education found.
If you’re planning on having a baby, effective pregnancy care will increase your chances of a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery. As getting pregnant is a difficult process some also decide to use donor eggs or a sperm donor, depending on their situation.
Prenatal care
Regular prenatal care appointments should begin around three months prior to when you start trying to conceive to help prepare your body for pregnancy.
Prenatal appointments minimize risks during pregnancy, help your doctor identify and solve problems early on, and ultimately increase the odds of a safe and healthy delivery.
In fact, the chance of a baby being born at a low birth weight is tripled in mothers without prenatal care.
Pregnancy healthcare
During pregnancy, regular healthcare appointments are key to ensuring the health of the mother and baby. These appointments typically involve monitoring your blood pressure and weight gain, routine tests (like blood tests to check for HIV and anemia), and monitoring the baby’s heart rate and development.
As you near your due date, appointments may also involve checking your body’s condition and the baby’s position. Moreover, extra appointments and special care may be required for high-risk pregnancies (usually so due to age or health conditions).
In fact, pregnant women considered high-risk may need to see a doctor specializing in this area. It’s also important to note although midwife-led home delivery is growing in popularity, it’s not always the best choice for high-risk pregnancies.
Midwife malpractice can occur if a midwife fails to spot an unforeseen problem during delivery, which in turn can result in needless harm to the mother and baby.
Postpartum care
The postpartum period spans around six to eight weeks after birth and centers on your health and recovery as you learn to care for your newborn.
Vaginal care is also important at this stage. Vaginal soreness, discharge, blood clots, urination problems, and contractions in the first few days after birth are common postpartum symptoms. Discuss any symptoms with your doctor who’ll give you proper treatment and advice.
A safe and healthy pregnancy, labor, and birth rely on effective pregnancy care. By staying healthy and attending all your healthcare appointments, you can better protect the health and wellbeing of both you and your baby.
