Optimum prenatal care should actually start three months before trying to achieve a successful pregnancy. The intake of folic acid has been shown to decrease the incidence of birth defects, especially those affecting the brain and spinal cord. Women with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, need to be in excellent control and on medications appropriate for use during pregnancy. Seizure medications may need to be changed so as to decrease potential harm to the fetus.
Proper nutrition, adequate rest, sensible exercise and the intake of prenatal vitamins all help to improve the environment of your baby’s living quarters for nine months. Alcohol intake and smoking should be eliminated. Even jacuzzi and sauna use should be restricted so as not to impair the fetal neural tube during its development.
The thrill of finding out you are pregnant can now happen in the privacy of your own home, thanks to the accuracy of home pregnancy tests. And with that positive test may come the physical changes of early pregnancy. Nausea, breast tenderness and more frequent urination are the most common symptoms women experience in the first three months of pregnancy. Of course the absence of these telltale signs does not signify a problem- just a lucky turn of events.
The nausea may be relieved by eating small, frequent meals; by increasing the intake of dry carbohydrates; by frequent rest periods; by eating ginger foods; and by the use of some over-the-counter or prescription medications. Breast tenderness may be relieved with the use of a sports bra, even to sleep at night, and usually resolves by three months as does the frequent urination.
The first visit for your prenatal care will involve a detailed history, complete physical exam including a Pap smear if needed, as well as routine lab work. Further diagnostic testing may include amniocentesis, ultrasound, AFP, cystic fibrosis and diabetes screening, as well as genetic counseling when appropriate.
For more information or to schedule an appointment for pregnancy counseling or prenatal care, please call Caring for You Health Center at 661-284-2400.