Getting pregnant can be quite an exciting moment. However, it comes with some responsibilities. For instance, there are several things that you need to do to ensure that you and your baby stay healthy. This is because maintaining a healthy pregnancy is one of the best ways to ensure that you have a healthy delivery. Therefore, it is imperative for you to get in touch with your Frisco OB/GYN as soon as you decide that you want to have a baby or when you learn that you are pregnant.
Prenatal visits to an OB/GYN usually involve physical exams, urinalysis, and weight checks. Depending on the stage of the pregnancy, you may also have to undergo imaging tests, such as ultrasound, and even blood tests. Below is a rundown of some of the benefits that are associated with getting adequate prenatal care.
Minimize Risk of Pregnancy Complications
Good lifestyle choices during pregnancy can significantly improve fetal health and help you to prevent pregnancy complications. By working closely with your OB/GYN, you can learn about the right kind of food that you should consume and the best form of physical exercise to engage it. You can also learn how much weight is healthy for you to gain. Most importantly, you will have regular check-ups for conditions such as high blood pressure and gestational diabetes and ensure that such conditions are put under control to keep you safe from any potential pregnancy complications.
Minimize Chances of Fetus or Baby Complications
Alcohol use and tobacco smoke have been proven to increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Alcohol use can also increase the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which can lead to problems such as facial features anomalies, poor memory, poor coordination, intellectual disability, and problems with organs such as the heart, bones, and kidneys. Studies have shown that babies can develop long term problems due to exposure, even to small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy. During prenatal visits, you will learn about the danger of such toxins and why it is important to avoid them. If it is hard for you to stop drinking or smoking, your doctor will recommend some programs that can be helpful to you.
In addition to avoiding toxins, your doctor will prescribe the right supplements for you to be taking. For instance, taking 400 grams of folic acids and other vitamins can significantly reduce the chances of developing neural tube defects.
Ensure That the Medication You Take is Safe
During pregnancy, it is wise for you to take over-the-counter-medication. If you have to take them for some reason, it is wise for you to consult your OB/GYN before doing so. You may also have to consult even in cases of prescription medication. In a nutshell, being in touch with your OB/GYN during pregnancy will keep you safe from taking unsafe medication.
The Takeaway
Overall, it is apparent that the importance of prenatal care cannot be overemphasized. Indeed, the quality of prenatal care that a woman gets significantly affects her health and that of her baby. Therefore, if you want to get pregnant or you are already pregnant, it is imperative to start visiting your OB/GYN for quality prenatal care.
It’s nice that you talked about how good lifestyle choices during pregnancy could significantly improve fetal health and help prevent pregnancy complications. My wife is now pregnant with our fist baby so we are quite excited about it. However, seeing as this is our first baby, we are a bit clueless on what to do, so we should probably ask for pregnancy care to make sure that everything goes well.