3 Reasons Prenatal Care Is Important

One of the best ways to promote a healthy birth is to have a healthy pregnancy. Getting prenatal care early and on a regular basis increases the chances that you and your baby remain healthy. 

Prenatal care can begin even before pregnancy, with a visit to a health care provider for pre-pregnancy care.

At the Center for Women's Health in Wichita, Kansas, board-certified OB/GYN Sharon Breit, MD, and our medical team are dedicated to providing the best care throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

Here are our top three reasons why prenatal care is vital.

Identifies potential health issues with the baby

Expectant mothers who skip prenatal care are more likely to have complications. During prenatal care, Dr. Breit works to identify and treat health issues early.

Dr. Breit checks your developing baby for problems such as birth defects, an issue with structural development, an illness, or a hereditary disorder. She also looks for placenta previa, which occurs when the placenta covers a portion of the cervix's opening, which may affect how your baby is delivered.

Reduces pregnancy complication risk

Dr. Breit monitors you for any issues during pregnancy. Potential complications we can detect early are:

• Low blood count (anemia)
• Urinary tract infections
• Depression
• Preexisting high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Preeclampsia (a serious high blood pressure condition)
• Diabetes during pregnancy 
• Infection

The earlier we detect complications, the sooner you can begin treatment. 

Even if you don't have any of these problems, we can help you deal with other common pregnancy issues like morning sickness, constipation, hemorrhoids, and edema.

Provides crucial insight

At your checkups, we make specific recommendations and counsel you on steps you can take to have a healthy pregnancy. For instance, we may:

• Discuss which medications to continue or stop taking, as well as any adult immunizations that may be required before delivery
• Recommend a folic acid-fortified prenatal vitamin
• Counsel you on the kind of behaviors and settings that are harmful to your baby

The lifestyle choices you make during pregnancy can affect your baby. Avoid certain foods, such as high-mercury fish and undercooked meat. We discuss the best foods to promote a healthy pregnancy and how to adopt a nutrient-rich diet to keep you fueled throughout your pregnancy. 

Tell us about any X-rays you need while pregnant, particularly in the abdominal area. In general, avoid radiation during pregnancy. An unborn baby could be harmed by the modest amount of radiation used. 

Even stress can affect your baby's development. We can discuss ways to manage your stress while pregnant and talk about reducing exposure to toxins. 

Scheduling and keeping your prenatal appointments is one of the keys to a healthy pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant, we are delighted to guide you on your pregnancy and delivery journey. 

Give our office a call or click to schedule a visit for prenatal care. Telehealth appointments are also available. Please call our clinic to determine if your visit is eligible for a telemedicine appointment.