Getting Medical Care For Pregnancy & Labor
If you are pregnant for the first time and don't know how to go about keeping yourself and the baby healthy, contacting an OB-GYN is the first thing that you will need to do. An OB-GYN will not only play a major role in keeping you and the fetus inside of you healthy, but will help you with the safest labor and delivery possible. Prenatal care is important because it allows a doctor to pinpoint possible health risks and take the necessary safety precautions during pregnancy and delivery. Take a look at the content below for information about prenatal care and childbirth with help from an OB-GYN.
Getting Prenatal Check-Ups
The first step to having a healthy pregnancy is for you to begin getting prenatal check-ups, which is actually the easiest part. When you visit an OB-GYN for your first check-up, they will ask you questions to determine how far along you are. You will also undergo an examination that will include your vitals being checked, a possible breast exam, and the doctor might feel around on your stomach. Your first exam should be the longest of them all, but the ones after will be a lot shorter. The duration between each check-up will depend on your overall health and whether or not any special care is needed.
Contractions Later in Pregnancy
When you get into your third trimester, you should expect to start feeling contractions. Having an OB-GYN on call is important because they can monitor your cervix to ensure that you are not going into labor too soon. Basically, you will experience what is called Braxton Hicks contractions in your third trimester, which are actually a false sign of labor. Your doctor will let you know if the contractions are real or not, and they can also advise you to go to the emergency room if the need arises. Actual labor contractions do not go away, and they continuously come and get stronger until your cervix dilates and you give birth to the baby.
Pain Relief During Labor & Delivery
Labor usually comes with a substantial amount of pain, which is why it is wise to go through the process with help from a doctor. They can explain the pain relief methods that are available to give you relief. For example, it is common for many women to opt for a procedure called an epidural to ease the pains of labor.
