Prenatal Care Health Article

Complications

At each visit, weight, blood pressure, and urine are checked. A rapid weight gain, increased blood pressure, and proteinuria signal the development of preeclampsia. Vaginal bleeding at any time during pregnancy needs evaluation. Third-trimester bleeding may indicate placenta previa or placental abruption, two conditions that put the fetus at risk. Sharp abdominal pain may indicate an ectopic pregnancy; the woman needs to be evaluated right away should such pain occur. An ectopic pregnancy can result in rupture of the fallopian tube and internal bleeding. A gush of fluid from the vagina can signal the rupture of the amniotic membranes. If this sign occurs at the end of pregnancy, it may indicate that labor is about to begin. However, once the membranes have ruptured, the uterus is more easily exposed to infection. Without adequate amniotic fluid, the umbilical cord can prolapse, reducing the oxygen flow to the fetus. Loss of fluid needs to be evaluated to determine if it was due to ruptured membranes or stress incontinence.

Results

The goal of prenatal care is the delivery of a healthy baby at term, from a healthy mother prepared to handle the challenges of parenthood.

Health care team roles

Nurses, dieticians, social workers, childbirth educators, midwives, nurse practitioners, obstetricians, and perinatalogists play important roles in prenatal care, through careful listening both to what is said and what may be omitted, thorough assessment and documentation, and education and referral. Radiology technicians will see the woman during ultrasound, amniocentesis, and chorionic villi sampling, at a time when she may be anxious about the test being performed. Laboratory technicians may see the woman at the end of a difficult visit, perhaps after she has received bad news or is anxious about an upcoming test. If the pregnant woman is dehydrated, venous access is more challenging to obtain. Providing an understanding, reassuring, and calm environment, and utilizing one's experience to perform the task at hand with the greatest of skill, can minimize any further sense of trauma.