Get Your Folic Acid This all-important prenatal vitamin helps prevent birth defects of the brain and spine. Most doctors recommend taking folic acid prior to conception, throughout pregnancy and after while nursing. Inform your doctor if you’ re taking any other supplements and medications, and discuss how much folic acid is right for you.
Vaccinations During pregnancy you should receive a Tdap shot to protect against pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus. A flu shot is also a must during flu season. You may need measles, mumps and rubella( MMR), hepatitis B or chickenpox vaccinations, too. Your provider will help determine which shots you may need.
Due to infection prevention standards, we ask that you shower( or bathe) before each visit to Renown Women’ s Health.
Regular Pregnancy Visits
Schedule an appointment every four weeks, until your pregnancy reaches 28 weeks. Your visits will increase to one every two weeks when you reach week 34. At 36 weeks, you’ ll see your healthcare provider weekly until delivery. High-risk pregnancies require more frequent visits.
Each appointment is fairly routine: Fetal heart tones, fundal height, urine, weight and blood pressure are checked. Other tests and screenings are done at key points throughout your pregnancy, including:
Ultrasound: This painless test is usually given between 18 and 22 weeks to check your baby’ s development. You can also learn the sex of your baby. Some women receive an ultrasound before 12 weeks to determine their due date. Additional ultrasounds are given for high-risk pregnancies.
Gestational Diabetes: This non-invasive screening is done between 24 and 28 weeks. You’ ll drink a sugary beverage and undergo a blood draw one hour later.
Group B Strep( GBS): Performed between 35 and 37 weeks, this test swabs your vagina and rectum to obtain a culture for analysis. GBS is a normal bacteria found in about 25 percent of healthy women. If you test positive, you’ ll receive antibiotics during labor and delivery to protect your baby from the bacteria.
Additional Testing: You Decide
Additionally, you have the option of testing for various genetic diseases and disorders. Discuss the need, benefits and any risks of these tests with your provider. Ask your insurance company to confirm which screenings are covered. A sample of some of the genetic screenings we offer include:
Cystic Fibrosis( CF) Screening: Both parents must carry the gene for your baby to develop CF, which is determined through a blood test or mouth swab. If necessary, your baby can be screened in utero for this disease.
First-Trimester Screening: This ultrasound is a first-line screening for Down syndrome risk and other genetic issues.
Quad Screen: This blood test, given between 15 and 20 weeks, identifies your baby’ s risk for Down syndrome and neural tubal defects— defects of the brain, skull and spinal cord.
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