Denise Thompson, M.D.
Pregnancy brings with it an abundance of new experiences: especially for the first time mother. The testing, lifestyle choices and adjustments during pregnancy are important ongoing processes.
I encourage my patients to follow good prenatal care for every pregnancy. The goal of prenatal care is to maintain the well-being of the mother and achieve a healthy outcome for her baby.
Some prenatal preparation can begin long before conception. All women of childbearing age who could become pregnant should consume 0.4 mg of folic acid daily. Folic acid has been shown to reduce the occurrence of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida in infants. Making lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake, are important to the baby's health. It is important to make these changes prior to conception, because you may not realize you are pregnant until a few weeks into the pregnancy.
When counseling women about prenatal care, the following points are covered:
* Medical Risks - All areas of high medical risk are assessed and treated. These include maternal or infectious diseases, prior pregnancy complications such as pre-term delivery and substance abuse.
* Physical Exam and Tests - Some laboratory tests are routinely performed periodically for all pregnancies. These tests screen for infections, anemia, chronic medical conditions of the mother, and abnormalities of the fetus.
* Ultrasound scans are often conducted to accurately assess due date and detect any problems in fetal anatomy or growth. This is also used to determine the sex of the fetus.
* Weight Gain - Total weight gain recommended in pregnancy is 25 to 30 lbs. for average women. (Underweight women may be encouraged to gain up to 40 lbs., and overweight women may be advised to keep weight gain down to 15-25 lbs.)
* Symptoms - Common pregnancy problems, such as vomiting, heartburn, constipation, and backache, can be identified, discussed, and safely treated.
It is also important to notify your obstetrician of any unusual symptoms or bleeding that you may experience. This enables your obstetrician to give you and your baby the proper care to keep you both healthy.
Denise Thompson, MD, specializes in obstetrics and gynecology at Saint John's Health System. Prospective patients may call 683-3280.