Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 172) pregnancy & newborn PRENATAL CARE needs to know Call your doctor if you have: ■ Blood or fluid coming from your vagina. ■ Sudden or extreme swelling of your face or fingers. ■ Headaches that are severe or won’t go away. ■ Nausea and vomiting that won’t go away. ■ Dizziness. ■ Dim or blurry vision. ■ Pain or cramps in your lower abdomen. ■ A change in your baby’s movements. ■ Less urine or burning when you urinate. ■ Any illness or infection. ■ Anything that bothers you. An ultrasound is used to check on your baby’s health and wellbeing. Pregnancy: T Taking care of you and your baby The first gift you can give your child is a healthy pregnancy. Regular visits to your family doctor will increase the odds of you and your baby enjoying a trouble-free 9 months. By Barbara L. Bittner here’s nothing more important during pregnancy than taking care of yourself and your baby. Getting the right prenatal care is one of the best ways to do this, which means you’ll be seeing a lot of your doctor during the next 9 months. Prenatal visits During your first appointment, your doctor will probably start by asking about your medical history and how you’ve been feeling. You’ll probably be weighed and have your blood pressure checked at every visit. Your first visit will probably also include a pelvic exam to check the size and shape of your uterus (womb) and to check for vaginal infections, and a Pap smear to screen for signs of cancer of the cervix (the opening of the uterus). Urine and blood tests may be done at the first visit and again later. A urine test is done to check for bacteria in your urine, high sugar levels (which can be a sign of diabetes) and high protein levels (which can be a sign of preeclampsia, a type of high blood pressure in pregnancy). Blood tests are done to check for low iron levels (anemia) and infections. Sometimes, an ultrasound may be done to help figure out when your baby is due, or to check on your baby’s growth and position in your uterus. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image of your baby on a video screen. 172 familydoctor 2007
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