The combined efforts of physicians, nurses, and the mother to see that the pregnant woman stays healthy and the unborn child has everything needed to grow and develop.
Medical care of a pregnant woman and the fetus she is carrying during the whole period of pregnancy, the aim being to ensure the health and ease of both. In medical terms, prenatal care is the long early part of the maternity cycle. With much heavier stress on prenatal care in recent decades, it has become clear that the earlier a woman begins prenatal care, the better for both herself and her baby in the long run. A woman is advised to see her doctor or clinic as soon as she suspects she might be pregnant. The doctor or clinic staff will perform pregnancy tests to confirm the pregnancy, will explore the woman’s and her family’s medical history to be alerted to any likely problems, and will give a variety of tests to identify any medical problems that might threaten the health or continuance of the pregnancy. At this time also, the doctor or clinic staff will advise the mother on what she should and should not do during the pregnancy, in such areas as nutrition, exercise, and avoiding smoking, alcohol, and drugs (unless the doctor confirms that specific medications are known not to harm a fetus).
Care for a pregnant woman in an effort to keep the woman healthy and to maximize the likelihood that the pregnancy will result in a full-term, full birthweight, healthy infant.
Health care provided to pregnant women. Prenatal care also involves education about pregnancy, labor, delivery, and parenting and the promotion of adequate nutritional support. Prenatal care ideally begins before the woman becomes pregnant and continues with monthly visits until 28 weeks of gestation, then every 2 to 3 weeks until 36 weeks’ gestation, and then weekly until the baby is born. Prenatal care makes possible the early detection and treatment of problems and helps ensure a healthy pregnancy.
The regular monitoring and management of the health status of the pregnant woman and her fetus during the period of gestation. Comprehensive care is based on a thorough review of the woman’s medical, surgical, obstetrical and gynecological, nutritional, and social history, and that of the family for indications of genetic or other risk factors. Laboratory analyses provide important data describing the woman’s current, health status and indications for treatment and anticipatory guidance. Periodic visits are scheduled to evaluate changes in blood pressure, weight, fundal height, fetal heart rate, and fetal activity, and to assess for any signs of emerging health problems. To enable the patient’s active participation in care and to facilitate early diagnosis and prompt treatment of emerging problems, emphasis is placed on anticipatory guidance and patient teaching. The health care professional describes and discusses nutrition and diet (including the importance of folate supplementation), self-management of common minor complaints, and signs to report promptly to the primary caregiver; helps patients gain access to resources available for preparation for childbirth, breastfeeding, newborn care, and parenting; and provides support and counseling.