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Prenatal Care

Prenatal care is medical care for pregnant woman and is important for a healthy pregnancy. Its key components include regular checkups and prenatal testing, eating healthfully, exercising, and beginning as soon as one knows she is pregnant.

During her pregnancy, a woman should see her doctor about once each month for the first six months of pregnancy, then every two weeks for the seventh and eighth month of pregnancy, and then every week until her baby is born. However, if a woman is over 35 or has a pregnancy with high risks due to health problems, she would probably have to see her doctor more often.

During prenatal visits, the practitioner will start by asking the pregnant woman how she was feeling and whether she has any complaints or worries. The practitioner would also answer any questions the expected mother has. After that, the health care provider would check the pregnant woman’s weight, blood pressure, heart, lungs, breasts, and urine. S/he would then measure the woman’s abdomen, check the position of her baby, listen to her baby’s heartbeat, perform as many exams and order tests as needed, and closely monitor any complications the woman has or has developed. At the end of the visit, the practitioner will review his/her findings with the expected mother, explain what normal changes to expect before her next visit and what warning signs to watch for. S/he would advise her about lifestyle issues, and discuss the pros and cons of optional tests that the expected mother might want to consider.

Exercise during pregnancy has many benefits including, boosting the expected mother’s energy level, helping her sleep better, reducing pregnancy discomfort (such as backaches, bloating, swelling, or constipation), helping to prepare for childbirth, reducing stress and lifting her spirits, improving her self-image, helping prevent or treat gestational diabetes, and helping her in getting her body back faster after childbirth.
According to the American...