Medical Care During Pregnancy

An estimated 4 million American women give birth each year, and about one-third of these women will suffer from some type of complication. Many times, a doctor can detect and deter these problems, which means that prenatal care is very important for both a mother and her unborn baby. When a soon-to-be mother goes to the doctor, she is taking steps to protect both herself and her child.

You can start regular meetings with your doctor before you even get pregnant. If you are wanting to have a baby, you should visit your physician to make sure you are physically ready for pregnancy. This includes testing for diseases that can spread to your baby, like rubella or group B strep. Additionally, if you have a condition like diabetes or hypertension, you can discuss the best way to manage these problems so that you do harm your precious child. Before pregnancy, you can also discuss any hereditary diseases that run in your family.

Once you suspect that you are pregnant, you should make an appointment with your obstetrician two to four weeks after your first missed period. If you have not had previous testing for diseases, this is when doctors will check for any transmittable health problems. He or she will also do blood work, and help you find good prenatal vitamins to nourish both you and your child.

Even if you are healthy and normal, you should visit the doctor every four weeks through the 28th week of pregnancy. This is to check for any problems that may develop as well as to make sure that your child is growing correctly. After the 28th week, you must go every 2 weeks until the 36th week of pregnancy. From there, you should visit every week until delivery. Testing during these routine visits can keep a continuous watch for conditions like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.

Routine medical care during pregnancy can help prevent health problems in the long run. However, it can be expensive to receive this treatment. In cases like this, you should make sure that you have a good health insurance provider who can help you pay these medical bills. To find the best health insurance plan for you, please contact the California health insurance agents from the Catherine Michaels Insurance Services today.