Prenatal care is essential for maintaining the health of both mother and baby during pregnancy. It allows healthcare providers to detect and treat potential health issues early, which can prevent complications. Getting early and regular prenatal care increases the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy and birth. For women considering pregnancy, a pre-pregnancy care visit to a healthcare provider is a great first step in trying to conceive and reduce problems during pregnancy.

What Is Prenatal Care?

Prenatal care is the health care a woman receives during pregnancy, starting as soon as pregnancy is suspected. Early and regular prenatal care visits are crucial for the well-being of both mother and fetus. Studies show that prenatal care significantly enhances the chances of a healthy pregnancy. Women who do not seek prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight baby and the risk of infant death.

Women who think they might be pregnant should schedule a prenatal visit with their healthcare provider to begin prenatal care. These prenatal visits usually involve a physical exam, weight monitoring and urine tests. Additional tests like blood work and imaging tests like ultrasounds may be performed depending on the pregnancy stage. These prenatal visits also provide an opportunity to discuss the health of the mother and fetus and address any pregnancy-related concerns.

How Often Do You Go to the Doctor When Pregnant?

Doctors usually provide the following schedule for all necessary visits during a woman's pregnancy:

• Weeks 4 to 28: About once a month
• Weeks 28 to 36: Twice a month
• Weeks 36 to birth: Weekly

Women over 35 or who have a high-risk pregnancy due to conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure require more frequent prenatal visits. Regular checkups with an OBGYN, midwife or family doctor trained in obstetrics are crucial to monitor a woman's pregnancy and address any potential health issues early on when they are easier to treat.

What Is a Midwife?

Midwifery care involves providing skilled and caring support to women and their families before pregnancy through labor, birth and the early weeks of a baby's life. Midwives are trained professionals who have completed a recognized education program and are licensed to practice. Midwives are the main professionals who support pregnant women during birth with little intervention if no complications arise.

Quality midwifery care improves over 50 other health-related outcomes, including better sexual and reproductive health, higher rates of immunization and breastfeeding and support for issues like quitting smoking during pregnancy, HIV, obesity in pregnancy, early childhood development and postpartum depression.

What Does a Midwife Do?

Midwives provide most of a woman's care during pregnancy, which includes checking the baby's health, helping with hospital bookings and giving support and advice. They also help prepare women for labor and birth. During birth and labor, midwives usually:

• Give information, encouragement and emotional support
• Monitor the mother's progress and the baby's heartbeat
• Offer pain relief or arrange for a doctor to provide medications
• Get extra medical help if needed

In the hospital, midwives also provide postnatal care, which includes:

• Helping mothers with breastfeeding and getting their newborns settled
• Teaching mothers how to bathe their newborns and change diapers
• Providing pain relief if necessary (or getting a doctor to help)
• Doing routine health checkups, like newborn screening

Midwives work in many public and private health settings, such as hospital maternity units, birth centers and private homes. Registered nurses can also become midwives by completing postgraduate studies in midwifery care.

Where Can I Get a Well-Woman Checkup?

Many local clinics and hospitals offer well-woman exams or women's wellness checkups.

Regular checkups with healthcare providers are different from appointments for illness or injury. These checkups, called well-women exams, include physical exams and preventive care to detect health issues early when they are more treatable. Well-women checkups include screenings for chronic diseases as well as specialized exams and screening, such as:

• Pelvic exam: The provider examines a woman's reproductive organs, including the vulva, vagina and cervix and performs an internal exam to assess the size and shape of the uterus and ovaries.
• Cervical cancer screening: This type of screening uses a Pap test, an HPV test or both to help prevent cervical cancer. A Pap test checks for cervical cancer and abnormal cells that could become cancerous. An HPV test identifies types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. The provider collects a sample of cells from the cervix and sends them to a laboratory for examination.
• Clinical breast exam: The provider examines the breasts and armpit area for lumps or other changes to screen for breast cancer.

The specific tests and frequency depend on a woman's age, overall health and family health history. Healthcare providers may also recommend additional tests, such as genetic testing, for women with a family history of certain cancers.

During a well-woman checkup, healthcare providers may also discuss other issues, such as:

• Birth control or family planning
• Menopause
• Menstrual concerns
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Vaccines
• Overall health, including suggestions on how to have a healthy lifestyle

It would help to bring a list of questions or concerns to maximize the benefits of a women's wellness checkup.

Find a Midwife in Nacogdoches

Healthcare is better together.

Let us help you take charge of your health with preventive care through all the seasons of your life. Whether you are a young woman, just starting a family, or in a menopausal stage, we are here for you at each step of your journey with comprehensive women's wellness screenings and compassionate care. Connect with us at 936-305-5277 to schedule a consultation today. Please don't delay care.

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