Your Questions Answered About Prenatal Care
Posted on: 15 November 2022
Did you miss your period and have been feeling unusually fatigued to the extent of wanting to sleep all day? If you have not taken a pregnancy test, you might want to do so as soon as possible because you are experiencing pregnancy symptoms. Although you can purchase a home pregnancy test, the best way to obtain accurate results is to make an appointment with a gynecologist. A home pregnancy test can provide accurate results, but there is the risk of the results being false as well. Find an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) clinic as soon as possible so you can begin the journey to safe delivery, as several services will be provided to keep you and the baby healthy.
What is an OB-GYN?
An OB-GYN is a medical doctor who provides services for women regarding their reproductive health and pregnancy. An OB-GYN has a combination of skills that are provided by obstetricians and gynecologists. For example, a gynecologist has a specialty in providing services that are focused on women's reproductive health, such as vaginal diseases and infertility. An obstetrician treats women who are pregnant and continues to provide services after the baby is delivered. An OB-GYN can provide all of the services, which is why you should make an appointment with an OB-GYN to receive the fullest extent of prenatal care.
What is Involved with Prenatal Care?
If you get a positive pregnancy test during your appointment, prenatal care will begin with tests being run. For example, your blood and urine will be assessed for various diseases and health conditions of concern. Anemia is one of the health conditions that is sometimes found during prenatal checkups, and it must be treated for safe delivery. Prenatal care will also include several ultrasounds being performed throughout your pregnancy to make sure the baby is growing properly. The specific services that will be provided during your prenatal care appointments will depend on your overall health.
How Often Are Prenatal Appointments?
Prenatal visits are usually scheduled on a monthly basis during the majority of pregnancy. During the last few weeks of pregnancy, visits are typically scheduled on a weekly basis. However, for women who are considered at a high-risk, prenatal visits might be scheduled more often than women who have healthy pregnancies. There are several conditions that can make a pregnancy high-risk, such as anemia, high blood pressure, a baby that is not growing properly, and several other conditions.
For more information, contact a gynecologist near you.
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