Prenatal care plays a critical role in ensuring mothers and babies stay healthy throughout pregnancy. Plaza Towers Ob-Gyn doctors are experienced in all aspects of prenatal care, helping women in Santa Monica, CA, feel confident about their pregnancies and the health of their babies.
During your prenatal exam, your blood pressure will be evaluated, you'll be weighed, and you'll usually be asked for a urine sample to check for signs of infection or other problems. Blood work, ultrasounds or other tests may be performed or ordered, and your belly will be measured to check on the baby's growth. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, other tests may be ordered to check on your health and the health of your baby. You'll also have a chance to ask the doctor questions and discuss concerns you may have.
In most cases, you'll start out seeing the doctor every month until your 28th week; then you'll visit the office every two weeks until week 36, at which time you'll come in every week until delivery. Women with high-risk pregnancies may have to visit the doctor more often.
Taking good care of yourself if the best thing you can do for your baby. That means eating a good diet, getting plenty of exercise and rest, quitting smoking, not drinking alcohol, avoiding caffeine and seeing the doctor for all of your appointments. Don't take any medicines of supplements – even over-the-counter products – without checking with your doctor first.
HPV has not been linked with miscarriages or birth defects, and in most cases, there are no delivery-related risks either. In a very few cases, the baby may develop a throat infection following delivery. If you have HPV, you should tell your doctor so you can get all the care and information you need to stay healthy.