When becoming, pregnant there is a few steps that should be taken to ensure that you and the baby is healthy. Prenatal care is getting health care while pregnant. Prenatal care is divided in two sections (What is prenatal care? N.d. para. 1), the first section is early prenatal care and second section is regular prenatal care. Early prenatal care is if you think you are pregnant or know that you are pregnant you call the doctor and schedule a visit (What is prenatal care? N.d. para. 1). Regular Prenatal care is regularly scheduling check ups over the course of your pregnancy (What is prenatal care? N.d. para. 1). (Don’t miss any – they are very important appointments) In todays world, there are more women and teens becoming pregnant from the age range of 15 years old to 40 years old. Between this age range, these two have one thing in common that helps with having a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby is prenatal care. Prenatal care is essential for the health of the mother and the unborn child. Prenatal care is essential because it helps with decreasing multiple risks during pregnancy, because its not just for the mother and because there are 5 main benefits to prenatal care. …show more content…
7). Such risks can be reduced by following a “healthy, safe diet, by getting regular exercise, and by avoiding exposure to potentially harmful substances such as lead and radiation” (what is prenatal care and why is it important. n.d., para.7). These factors help prevent the complications from occurring. To help decrease complication such as anemia, preterm birth, preeclampsia, diabetes, and poor growth of the baby in utero. By going to a health care professional and by following the steps to reducing these risks. This ensures that the health of the baby and the mother is to standards. It also helps with having a healthy delivery when it comes time for
Pam Jenkins is a 36 year-old woman that is 30 weeks into her third pregnancy. Since her pregnancy began, Pam has gained 20 pounds. Although Pam has reduced the amount that she smokes, she continues to smoke 5 cigarettes per day, which may cause some issues with her worry of another preterm birth. Another factor that could also cause complications is her delayed prenatal vitamin use. After logging her dietary intake within a 24 hour period into SuperTracker, I will be making recommendations on how she can alter her diet and lifestyle to ensure that Pam receives the nutrients she needs for herself and for her baby.
These women could anticipate delays in normal growth and development for the fetus. The exact cause of post term pregnancy is unknown. The mother experiencing post term pregnancy is at risk for trauma, hemorrhage, infection, and labor abnormalities (Ward et al., 2016, p. 543). Labor induction prior to 42 weeks’ gestation prevents MAS and other complications. A biophysical profile measuring the heart rate, breathing and body movements, tone, and the amniotic fluid volume is used to monitor the fetus for intrapartum fetal stress that could cause passage of meconium. Diabetic woman is at high risk for preeclampsia or eclampsia, infection, hydramnios, postpartum hemorrhage, and cesarean birth (Ward et al., 2016, p. 383). In addition, fetal macrosomia prolongs labor due to shoulder dystocia. The glucose challenge test, and the 3- hour OGTT is used for gestational diabetes screening, done after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Abnormalities of the respiratory system as explained earlier are the most concerning complication of MAS, needing immediate
In American culture during the first 8 months of pregnancy the woman will have monthly scheduled prenatal visits. At the beginning of the 8th month she will have biweekly prenatal visits. During the 38th week she will transition into weekly prenatal visits until the baby is born. If the patient has a high risk pregnancy her prenatal visits may occur more frequently. The frequency of high risk prenatal visits will depend on the provider and the complication associated with the pregnancy. During high risk prenatal visits the patient will generally have more specialized test to monitor her health as well as t...
Two-thirds of infants die during the first month of life due to low birth weight (Lia-Hoagberg et al, 1990). One reason for this outcome is primarily due to difficulties in accessing prenatal care. Prenatal health care encompasses the health of women in both pre and post childbearing years and provides the support for a healthy lifestyle for the mother and fetus and/or infant. This form of care plays an important role in the prevention of poor birth outcomes, such as prematurity, low birth weight and infant mortality, where education, risk assessment, treatment of complications, and monitoring of fetus development are vital (McKenzie, Pinger,& Kotecki, 2012). Although every woman is recommended to receive prenatal health care, low-income and disadvantaged minority women do not seek care due to structural and individual barriers.
Healthy people 2020 states “The risk of maternal and infant mortality and pregnancy-related complications can be reduced by increasing access to quality preconception (before pregnancy) and interconception (between pregnancies) care. Moreover, healthy birth outcomes and early identification and treatment of health conditions among infants can prevent death or disability and enable children to reach their full potential.” (CITE HEALTHY PEOPLE) Objective maternal, infant, and child health (MICH)1.1 has the goal of “reducing the rate of fetal deaths of fetuses at 20 or greater weeks gestation”. (C...
It is important to understand what women commonly experience during pregnancy. With a better understanding of what happens during prenatal development and childbirth, physicians can competently develop the best plan for the mother and baby. I interviewed two women who have been previously pregnant in order to evaluate how the ideas in the book translate into real-life experiences.
We are exposed to many harmful substances in our daily lives. Some of these substances are especially harmful for a developing zygote, embryo, or fetus. When a woman makes the decision to become pregnant, or if she finds herself pregnant, she can also make some decisions of what kind of precautions she will make during her pregnancy. While some substances such as pollution are mostly unavoidable for pregnant women in today’s society, other harmful substances can be easily avoided to ensure the proper healthy development of her unborn child.
Health complications can occur during pregnancy with the woman or the fetus. During pregnancy, a woman can have an ectopic pregnancy, which is where the fetus develops outside of the uterus. While giving birth, a woman can risk her life if she encountered any difficulties. A fetus can develop birth defects, for instance, down syndrome, as well as diseases and infections. If a fetus’ has a life-threatening illness, a mother may decide to end the pregnancy so the baby does not have a painful life. However, a doctor may say the baby may have birth defects, but the baby can be born perfectly
March Dimes Foundation: Pregnancy and Newborn Health Education Center. Retrieved from http://www.marchofdimes.com/materials/teenage-pregnancy.pdf
There are many different areas to consider when preparing for and having a newborn. Whether the pregnancy was planned or unplanned or the couple is married or not, a newborn baby brings new responsibilities. Having a baby also forces people to make adjustments both financially and within the family. Parents also express concerns and expectations when having a newborn comma especially when it is their first; including what roles each parent and family member should play, how much confidence they have in their parenting skills, and how much financial strain would be placed on the family once the newborn has arrived. The newest issue in today’s society is the fact that many women are delaying childbirth and having more children in their later years of life.
(Gilman, Breslau, Subramanian, Hitsman, & Koenen, 2008). Despite the warnings about the dangers of smoking while pregnant, some women still choose to smoke, which places themselves and their baby at risk for many health issues. Damage caused by smoking while pregnant During pregnancy, smoking can cause problems for a woman’s own health, including, ectopic pregnancy, vaginal bleeding, placental abruption, in which the placenta peels away, partially or almost completely, from the uterine wall before delivery; Placenta Previa, a low-lying placenta that covers part or all of the opening of the uterus (March of Dimes, 2011). Women that smoke expose their unborn baby to dangerous chemicals, like carbon monoxide, tar and nicotine.... ...
The responsibility of being pregnant is surely not as sever as actually having a baby but it is truly a preparation course. I feel almost scared when I go to the doctor. I keep close eyes on my food intake and eating habits, so that I can have enough supplements for both of us. I have to keep my baby safe because she can not do it on her own. I have to prepare myself for life with my baby; it is not only a mind set but also a physical one. I have to be prepared to make sacrifice and present stability in a child’s life even though I am still young. I have to face responsibility and understand it and achieve it. I have to face my fears, and run at them so that I may conquer life to the fullest. I must stand on my own feet and make my own decisions because this is my life; no this is our life.
• Get proper medical care during pregnancy. Your health care provider may be able to prevent preeclampsia or diagnose and treat it early.
Over the years birthing methods have changed a great deal. When technology wasn’t so advanced there was only one method of giving birth, vaginally non-medicated. However, in today’s society there are now more than one method of giving birth. In fact, there are three methods: Non-medicated vaginal delivery, medicated vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery, also known as c-section. In the cesarean delivery there is not much to prepare for before the operation, except maybe the procedure of the operation. A few things that will be discussed are: the process of cesarean delivery, reasons for this birthing method and a few reasons for why this birthing method is used. Also a question that many women have is whether or not they can vaginally deliver after a cesarean delivery, as well as the risks and benefits if it. Delivering a child by a c-section also has a few advantages and disadvantages for both the mother and child; this will also be discussed in more depth a bit later.
The chosen health improvement initiative that is going to be studied within this community profile is reducing the amount of teenage pregna...