What does prenatal care include?

What does prenatal care include?

It is normal for a pregnant woman to make several visits to the doctor during the different months of her pregnancy to conduct the necessary examinations and tests for her health  as mentioned earlier  and she can explain them in some detail as follows.

 Taking your medical history as the doctor asks you about your menstrual cycle  your health and medical history if you suffer from any chronic diseases  your lifestyle  your use of tobacco or alcohol products  and other important questions.

 or prenatal care or care during pregnancy (prenatal care) visits to the doctor for all necessary examinations and tests during and before pregnancy  and this care may help maintain the health of the pregnant woman and her fetus  and it has been found that mothers who do not receive good care during pregnancy They are more likely to be underweight during pregnancy than those who received the necessary care.

 physical examination

At this visit  the doctor will measure your weight and height to calculate your body mass index (BMI) in order to determine the recommended visit in pregnancy weight  as well as blood pressure  and in some cases the doctor may recommend a cervical exam Breast examination etc to ensure your health.

Laboratory tests

Your doctor may order a series of lab tests  such as a complete blood count blood power Determine blood type.

 Urinalysis Liver function tests By estimating the approximate date of delivery  in this case  the doctor determines the approximate date of delivery based on your menstrual cycle.

 Determining the due date is essential as it helps the doctor monitor the growth and development of the fetus during the different stages of pregnancy.

The dose of vitamins you need

Some doctors may create a chart showing the most important nutrients you should be taking in including iron vitamins calcium etc.

 depending on the percentage of these elements in your body and how much you need.

Schedule the next revisions

Your doctor will determine all the doctor visits you should see  and most experts suggest seeing a doctor in the later stages of pregnancy about once a month  between 4 to 28 weeks.

 Twice a month  between 28-36 weeks Once a week from week 36 until the end of pregnancy.

 Hearing the fetus's voice In some cases  you may need to visit the doctor at different times to hear the sound of the fetus's heartbeat through the use of a Doppler machine and this usually occurs between 12-14 weeks of pregnancy.

 Cases that require contacting a doctor

During pregnancy  specifically before your birth  you may face many problems that require contacting or consulting a doctor immediately  and one of the most important of these cases is that you suffer from bleeding and painful cramps in the abdomen.

 You feel severe nausea and vomiting  Increased vaginal discharge  The appearance of an unpleasant smell of vaginal secretions  You have symptoms of an infection  such as fever  chills  or pain while urinating.