Obstetrics

Prenatal care is the healthcare a woman receives during pregnancy, starting as soon as pregnancy is suspected. Early and regular prenatal care visits are crucial for the well-being of both mother and fetus. These prenatal visits provide an opportunity to discuss the health of the mother and fetus and address any pregnancy-related concerns.

Women who think they might be pregnant should schedule a prenatal visit with their healthcare provider to begin prenatal care. These prenatal visits usually involve a physical exam, weight monitoring and urine tests. Additional tests like blood work and imaging tests like ultrasounds may be performed depending on the pregnancy stage.

Doctors usually provide the following schedule for all necessary visits during a woman's pregnancy:

• Weeks 4 to 28: About once a month
• Weeks 28 to 36: Twice a month
• Weeks 36 to birth: Weekly

Women over 35 or who have a high-risk pregnancy due to conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure require more frequent prenatal visits. Regular checkups with an OBGYN, midwife or family doctor trained in obstetrics are crucial to monitor a woman's pregnancy and address any potential health issues early on when they are easier to treat.

Midwifery care involves providing skilled and caring support to women and their families before pregnancy through labor, birth and the early weeks of a baby's life. Midwives are trained professionals who have completed a recognized education program and are licensed to practice. Midwives are the main professionals who support pregnant women during birth with little intervention if no complications arise.

Quality midwifery care improves over 50 other health-related outcomes, including better sexual and reproductive health, higher rates of immunization and breastfeeding and support for issues like quitting smoking during pregnancy, HIV, obesity in pregnancy, early childhood development and postpartum depression.

During birth and labor, midwives usually:

• Give information, encouragement and emotional support
• Monitor the mother's progress and the baby's heartbeat
• Offer pain relief or arrange for a doctor to provide medications
• Get extra medical help if needed

In the hospital, midwives also provide postnatal care, which includes:

• Helping mothers with breastfeeding and getting their newborns settled
• Teaching mothers how to bathe their newborns and change diapers
• Providing pain relief if necessary (or getting a doctor to help)
• Doing routine health checkups, like newborn screening

Midwives work in many public and private health settings, such as hospital maternity units, birth centers and private homes. Registered nurses can also become midwives by completing postgraduate studies in midwifery care.