How Regular Visits to obgyn Doctors can Help Both Mother and Child During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a stressful time during a woman’s life. There are few things in life that are as equally exciting and terrifying. The excitement of bringing a new life into the world is counterbalanced by the stress and pressure of caring for a newborn baby. This is why regular prenatal care from obgyn doctors and women health services is vital to both the expecting mother and expected child.

Health care for women, including prenatal care, can help an expectant mother understand how she should take care of herself while pregnant. This is why during a normal 40 week pregnancy, the average American woman will have around 15 prenatal visits. Just seeing obgyn doctors for prenatal care can be helpful for you child, as studies seem to show that mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have babies with a low birth weight.

Prenatal care offered by obgyn doctors includes more than just directly monitoring the health of the fetus, though. Obgyn doctors can offer up a wide range of advice to the mother-to-be that will help ensure she has the healthiest child possible. For example, obgyn doctors will be able to advise an expectant mother on the medications she should or should not be taking. A pregnant woman should always consult her doctor before stopping or starting medications while pregnant, as some medicines are not safe during pregnancy. Prenatal care from obgyn doctors can also help to drive home the dangers of binge drinking during pregnancy. Binge drinking can be particularly dangerous to a fetus, possibly leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, mental retardation, or facial deformities such as cleft lip or cleft palate.

But Norfolk obgyn doctors can offer prenatal care that will be as equally helpful to the mother as it will be to the child. While many women may think they can eat whatever they want while pregnant, obgyn doctors will advise the dangers of gaining too much weight. Gestational diabetes, and premature birth are both risk factors associated with rapid weight gain during pregnancy. Women of a healthy weight should be wary of putting on more than 25 to 35 pounds while pregnant, whereas overweight women should avoid putting on any more than 15 to 25 pounds.

Additionally, obgyn doctors will be able to provide advice on dangers that may not be as well known. Such as the importance of avoiding all rodents while pregnant. Pet rodents are especially dangerous as it is more likely for a pregnant woman to come into contact with their urine, droppings, or nesting material. As a prenatal care doctor will be able to tell you, rodents are dangerous to unborn children because they carry a virus that can be harmful or even deadly to the unborn baby. Of course, knowledgeable obgyn doctors can also provide interesting facts like that the most popular day for babies to be born is Tuesday, followed by Mondays.