Routine prenatal care is necessary to ensure the health and well-being of the mother and unborn child. Initially, your appointments are more spread out, but they will be closer as you get near your due date. If you're curious about what to expect, it's relatively straightforward. Pediatric Associates of Davidson County, serving Nashville, TN, and the nearby region, are ready to see your little one when the time comes.
Filling Out Your Medical History
The first step is to fill out your medical history, regardless of your trimester. This gives the doctor an idea of any reproductive and health problems affecting your pregnancy. Some of the information helps them tailor any necessary treatment around any medications you take or chronic conditions you have.
Asking Questions
At your prenatal care visits in Nashville, TN, you can ask any questions. For instance, if you take a certain medication, you may want to know if it's safe while pregnant. You may want to discuss any lifestyle changes you'll need to make, such as those related to your diet, physical activity, or job.
Weight and Blood Pressure Monitoring
At your appointments, a practitioner will take your weight and blood pressure. They'll specifically want to look to see if you're gaining a healthy amount of weight. Blood pressure monitoring can help detect pre-eclampsia. Once an obstetrician notices a problem, they can intervene, including helping you change your diet.
Testing
During different times throughout your pregnancy, you'll need to undergo certain testing. For instance, an ultrasound is often given during the first trimester to detect a heartbeat or determine your expected due date. You'll receive an ultrasound during your second trimester to determine the number of fetuses, identify the gender, confirm the due date, and look for abnormalities in the kidneys or other organs. Sometimes, one is given in the last trimester, but that's mainly for high-risk pregnancies.
A glucose test to check for gestational diabetes will be given. Some women may undergo amniocentesis, which consists of taking a sample of the amniotic fluid to look for chromosomal abnormalities.
Blood tests are given to check both the mother's and baby's health. Women with high-risk pregnancies may need to have non-stress tests to assess the baby's heart rate in response to activity.
Pediatric Associates of Davidson County, serving Nashville, TN, and the neighboring communities, hopes for the best for your pregnancy. We recommend scheduling an appointment with you before you deliver.
