Prenatal care is necessary in ensuring the overall health and wellness of both mother and child. The first prenatal care visit can be stressful for women because medical practitioners usually collect a lot of data, to make sure that the pregnancy can be as trouble free as possible.
Your medical provider will normally get a detailed medical background from you. That could involve details regarding your menstrual cycle, contraceptive use, allergies, past pregnancies, and other conditions. In order for your medical doctor to effectively handle your pregnancy, it is important that you disclose even sensitive information such as abortion and use of drugs. If you were unable to discuss these with any of your family members, it is easy to request that you talk to your physician in private. The essential thing is to rule out any hazards or potential issues through your pregnancy.
Health care providers conduct a lot of exams to determine that you are not having a high risk pregnancy. Here's a list of the common tests requested by your medical doctor during the initial visit:
Physical Exam - Your doctor will check your blood pressure, height and weight. Aside from determining your all round wellness, your doctor could also particularly evaluate your heart, lung area and breasts.
Pelvic Examination - A Pap smear is done to check for cervical cancer and other sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and chlamydia. A bimanual internal examination is also carried out to ascertain the measurement of the uterus and pelvis. It may lead to a slight discomfort but it is essential in examining for abnormalities in the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Complete Blood Count - This test is performed to determine infection, presence of anemia and to determine clotting ability.
Serologic Test for Syphilis - Syphilis must be treated early in pregnancy to prevent fetal damage. The deformities may vary from bone and tooth deformities to nerve and brain damage.
Blood Typing - It is important due to the fact that pregnant women with bleeding tendencies need to have blood ready in case of emergencies.
Maternal Serum for Alpha-Fetoprotein (MSAFP) - This test is vital in identifying neural tube and abdominal defects in the fetus. It is usually conducted at 16 to 18 weeks of gestation.
Rubella - This test is done to screen for immunity against German measles. A lot of People are immune against rubella because vaccinations are given in their childhood. If you didn't get the vaccine, stay away from individuals with this disease. Although it may be rare, it can result in really serious complications for your baby.
Antibody Titers for Hepatitis B (HBsAg) - This test is applied to screen for Hepatitis B, which may be transmitted to the baby throughout childbirth.
Varicella - This test is used to check for immunity from chickenpox. That test is normally requested for women who have no background of the disease. An exposure during pregnancy may have dangerous effects to the child.
Urinalysis - Health professionals need to test your urine to check for kidney disorder and bladder infections. That test can additionally detect high levels of sugar which may point out to diabetes. Bladder infections are common amongst expecting women, and if kept untreated, it may lead to problems for the child.
Indirect Coombs' Test - It can determine if Rh antibodies are present. An Rh factor is a protein on the surface of the blood cells that trigger an immune system response. If a woman is Rh negative and her spouse is Rh positive, the baby's blood type may not match, and it may result in Rh incompatibility. The incompatibility will set off the mom's body to develop antibodies which may be harmful to the baby. Therefore, an injection of Rh immune globulin (Rhogam) during the 28th week of pregnancy is essential. This injection is additionally given in the instance of bleeding during pregnancy and after delivery of the baby.
HIV Test - This test in pregnancy is optional, but it is recommended because it enables a HIV positive female to start therapy with Zidovudine (AZT). AZT may minimize the chance of the infant developing the disease. Women who possess a history of using intravenous drugs, and who have a number of sex partners are encouraged to undergo testing. It may be a really important but it is by no means mandatory, so females have the right to refuse testing.
Genetic Tests - Your doctor may also order genetic tests to figure out illnesses which can be handed to the child as a consequence of defective genes. Physicians would typically prescribe it depending on your health-related history and ethnic background. People of Mediterranean descent, Blacks, French Canadians and Jews have a greater risk of getting Tay-Sach's disease, sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.
Prenatal care is a really good step in ensuring a very healthy pregnancy.Although the first visit may demand a lot of exams, these are ordered so one can have the very best possible care for the duration of pregnancy. The next prenatal visits may not be as long as the first one however, each visit is equally important. A pregnant woman needs to work closely together with her doctor to guarantee a healthy pregnancy.
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