Importance of Prenatal Care

Posted: Jan. 1, 2004

Every year nearly one million American women deliver babies without receiving adequate medical attention. Babies born to mothers who received no prenatal care are three times more likely to be born at low birth weight, and five times more likely to die, than those whose mothers received prenatal care.

What is prenatal care?
Prenatal care is medical attention given to the expectant mother and her developing baby. It also involves the mother’s caring for herself by following her health care provider’s advice, practicing good nutrition, getting plenty of rest, exercising sensibly, and avoiding things that could harm her or her baby.

Why is prenatal care important?
Habits that may not harm an adult may still harm your baby’s development. Remember that your child’s health begins long before it is born. Through proper prenatal care, you can reduce your baby’s risk for health problems.

Is smoking bad for my baby?
A pregnant smoker is at a higher risk for problems in her pregnancy. Babies born to mothers who smoke have a lower average birthweight, an increased rate of premature birth, and are at greater risk of death from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), than babies of nonsmokers.

Studies show that women who quit smoking early in their pregnancies can reduce the risk of damage to their babies. Even quitting in the last month of pregnancy can help your baby by increasing the amount of oxygen available to him or her during delivery.

Will alcohol harm my baby?
There is no guaranteed safe level of alcohol consumption if you are pregnant. Any alcohol you drink enters both yours and your baby’s bloodstream. Alcohol use during pregnancy may cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS babies may suffer from physical, behavioral, and mental problems.

Should I avoid taking medicine?
Don’t take any medication without first consulting your health care provider. Even over-the-counter medication—for example, antihistamines or pain medications that contain aspirin or ibuprofen—can be harmful to a developing baby.

Be careful about vitamins. Take the prenatal vitamins prescribed or recommended by your health care provider, but don’t take any additional vitamins on your own. Although you need more of some things, like iron, calcium, and folate, too much of other nutrients can harm your baby.

What foods should I eat?
A healthy baby starts with healthy food. When you are pregnant, everything you eat or drink nourishes your baby, too. That’s why it’s important to eat healthy foods. A healthy pregnant woman needs less than 300 extra calories a day to meet her needs and give her baby the necessary nutrients. Therefore, your goal should be to eat highly nutritious foods while avoiding excessive calories, fat, sugar, and sodium.

Do I need to see a health care provider before pregnancy?
All women of childbearing age are encouraged to visit a health care provider annually. See your health care provider immediately if you suspect you are pregnant.

Do my baby and I need to see a health care provider after delivery?
Yes, following your pregnancy, it’s important to make and keep your health care appointments for both you and your baby.

Source: Health Resources and Services Administration/Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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