Prenatal care

Prenatal care refers to the medical care recommended for women before and during pregnancy. The aim of good prenatal care is to detect any potential problems early, to prevent them if possible (through recommendations on adequate nutrition, exercise, vitamin intake etc), and to direct the woman to appropriate specialists, hospitals, etc. if necessary. The availability of routine prenatal care has played a part in reducing maternal death rates and miscarriages as well as birth defects, low birth weight, and other preventable infant problems in the developed world.

Related Topics:
Pregnancy - Maternal death - Miscarriage - Birth defects - Low birth weight - Developed world

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While availability of prenatal care has considerable personal health and social benefits, socioeconomic problems prevent its universal adoption in many developed as well as developing nations.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Studies in Canada and the United States have shown that communities in rural areas as well as minorities are less likely to have available prenatal care and also have higher infant mortality rates as well as premature involuntary termination of pregnancy.

Related Topics:
Canada - United States - Involuntary termination of pregnancy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Prenatal care generally consists of:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• monthly visits during the first two trimesters (from week 1-28)
• biweekly from 28 to week 36 of pregnancy
• weekly after week 36 (delivery at week 38-40)
 
Prenatal care: Prenatal Care Practitioners ►