A successful pregnancy requires the mother’s ability to take good care of herself and her unborn child. It is essential to have regular medical checkups, beginning as soon as possible (certainly within the first three months). Early detection of fetal abnormalities and identification of high-risk mothers and infants are the major purposes of prenatal care. On the first visit, the practitioner should obtain a complete medical history of the mother and her family and note any hereditary conditions that could put a woman or her fetus at risk.
Regular checkups to measure weight gain and blood pressure and to monitor the size and position of the fetus should continue throughout the pregnancy. This early care reduces infant mortality and low birth-weight. A study group for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends seven or eight prenatal visits for women with low-risk pregnancies. Unfortunately, prenatal care is not equally available to all pregnant women. Approximately 30 percent of pregnant teenagers and unmarried women do not have adequate access to prenatal care. Babies of mothers who received no prenatal care about 10 times more likely to die in the first month of life are babies of mothers who did get prenatal care.
A woman should carefully e a practitioner to attend her pregnancy and delivery. If possible, this choice should be made before she becomes ant. Recommendations from friends who were satisfied with the care they received during pregnancy may be a good starting point in the search for a practitioner. The woman’s family’ physician may also be able to recommend a specialist. The pregnant woman needs to find a practitioner she can with both her own life and that of the baby and with l she can communicate freely.
When choosing a practitioner, parents should ask a number of questions concerning credentials and professional qualifications. Besides this information, a pregnant woman must ask questions specific to her condition. Prospective parents should also inquire about the practitioner’s experience in handling various complications, commitment to being at the mother’s side during delivery, and beliefs and practices concerning the use of anesthesia, fetal monitoring, induced labor, and forceps delivery. What are the practitioner’s attitudes toward birth control, abortion, and alternative birthing procedures? The practitioner’s approach to nutrition and medication during pregnancy should be similar to the woman’s own. Finally, the parents must learn under what circumstances the practitioner would perform a cesarean section.
Two types of physicians can attend pregnancies and deliveries. The obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn) is an M.D. who specializes in obstetrics (pregnancy and birth) and gynecology (care of women’s reproductive organs). These practitioners are trained to handle all types of pregnancy – and delivery-related emergencies.
A family practitioner is a licensed M.D. who provides comprehensive care for people of all ages. The majority of family practitioners has obstetrical experience but will refer a patient to a specialist if necessary. Unlike the ob-gyn, the family practitioner can serve as the baby’s physician after attending the birth.
Midwives are also experienced practitioners who can attend both pregnancies and deliveries. Certified nurse-midwives are registered nurses having specialized training in pregnancy and delivery. Most midwives work in private practice or in conjunction with physicians. Those who work with physicians have access to traditional medical facilities to which they can turn in an emergency. Lay midwives may or may not have extensive training in handling an emergency. They may be self-taught rather than trained through formal certification procedures.
*19/277/5*
