Prenatal Care
If you’ve recently found out you’re pregnant, congratulations! It’s now time to delve into your mother-to-be shoes and gear up for the journey ahead. Prenatal care is an important aspect of any pregnancy journey. It can significantly impact the mother and baby’s health, and ultimately, the birth.
Prenatal care is more than what happens during your appointments! It’s how you care for yourself back home that makes all the difference. As your healthcare providers, we aim to inform and educate you in a way that enables you to make the best choices for yourself and your baby.
What to expect during a prenatal appointment?
Your first visit is all about us getting to know each other in detail. We discuss the following points in detail:
- Your medical history
- Your physical health
- Your partner’s overall health
- Nutritional health
- Your desires for your birth
You will also have plenty of time to ask questions and address any concerns that you might have. We will go over our prenatal visit schedule so you know what to expect going forward.
After the first visit, all subsequent prenatal visits with your midwife include:
- Checking your blood pressure
- Urinalysis
- Fundal height measurement (measuring the growth of your baby)
- Gently feeling your baby’s position to ensure baby is in a good position for birth
- Listening to your baby’s heartbeat
- Discussing any concerns or questions you may have
What does a usual prenatal schedule look like?
Your prenatal visits occur monthly until 28 weeks of pregnancy. Then we see you every two weeks until the 36th week, followed by weekly visits until your baby arrives.
If you are planning to have your baby at home, your midwife will make a home visit towards the end of your pregnancy to become acclimated with your birth space.
Most labs are done in the Birthways office, and we offer referrals for ultrasounds or additional testing as needed or requested.
What are the benefits of prenatal care?
Prenatal care is essential to help your healthcare provider track your pregnancy, your baby’s growth, and your health during it all. They are able to address any issues as they arrive, preventing problems later on.
Some benefits of prenatal care include:
- Reduced risk of pregnancy complications
- Reduced risk of fetal problems during or after birth
- Helps treat and prevent any nutritional deficiencies in the mother
- Reduces the chances of interventions during birth
- Provides opportunity to educate parents regarding breastfeeding and childcare
If you want to learn more about our care or get started with us, send us a message!