Do you need to have pre-natal check ups? Short answer is yes. But why?

So you’ve found out that you’re pregnant. Congratulations!

Now, You might be thinking what to do next? Call and inform your friends and family? Start looking into baby wear and gadgets? First things first, get a check up! 

It is crucial that you visit an OB-GYNE doctor to see the condition of your baby and to know what you can expect throughout your pregnancy.

While everything may seem overwhelming and you’re itching to let people know, the first person that should be well informed is your doctor. 

This visit to the doctor while pregnant is what you call a prenatal check-up and it should be done frequently. The frequency will vary depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy and the recommended schedule from your doctor. Normally, the earlier you are in your pregnancy the less visits there are to make in a month, usually just once a month, and as you get closer to your expected due date, the visit becomes more frequent to becoming once a week or every 2 weeks.

Prenatal checkups are important to increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy. 

As every expecting mother is at risk with possibly developing complications, constant and frequent prenatal visits can help lower these risks and prevent possible complications that may arise and ensure a healthy pregnancy. This goes for both the mom and their infant. 

What can you expect during your prenatal check-up?

• For your questions to be answered. Finding out you’re pregnant can either be a very happy moment or a scary one. Rather than going to Dr. Google for answers, a licensed and respected doctor will be able to address all your concerns. So jot down a list to bring during your visit.

• Determine the condition of your pregnancy. It’s vital that you make that very first visit to inform your doctor about your pregnancy. A positive home pregnancy test may not tell you everything. Your doctor will check your medical history and to see if there could be possible complications, or if you may have a high risk pregnancy, and the only way to find out is to visit your doctor.

• Calculate your due date. To be fully prepared, you’ll want to know when you can expect to bring your bundle of joy into this world. Your doctor will determine this, usually through an ultrasound, based on your last menstrual cycle. 

• Prescribe you with prenatal vitamins and suggest healthy living. Carrying a baby in you is no big feat., so taking your prenatal vitamins and other prescriptions recommended by your doctor will help reduce the risk of pregnancy complications and following a suggested healthy living lifestyle will increase the chances of a healthy baby and labor.

In a published article by https://www.ucrhealth.org/ it states that :

“In addition, taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily reduces the risk for neural tube defects by 70%.2,9 Most prenatal vitamins contain the recommended 400 micrograms of folic acid as well as other vitamins that pregnant women and their developing fetus need.1,10 Folic acid has been added to foods like cereals, breads, pasta, and other grain-based foods. Although a related form (called folate) is present in orange juice and leafy, green vegetables (such as kale and spinach), folate is not absorbed as well as folic acid.”

• Monitoring of your baby. It’s only through your prenatal visits that you’re able to check the condition of your baby; through lab tests, ultrasound’s, etc., and be able to predict the chances of the outcome of your baby as complications may arise, these prenatal visits will help you and your baby to ensure that everything runs smooth; otherwise, it can be detected early on.

So if you’re an expecting mother, ensure to visit your doctor and make those prenatal checkups. If you haven’t started, make the first step and call your doctor to schedule a visit today.