PRENATAL CARE: GETTING YOUR FAMILY OFF TO A GREAT START
N ow more than ever pregnancy can present significant stress for Black women. Regardless of income, education or where you live, Black women are three to four times more likely to die during pregnancy compared to white women. Despite these and other statistics, there are things that mothers can do to fight back. One of those things is to start prenatal care as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. Prenatal care is the health care that you receive while you are pregnant. Babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to be born with low birth weight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do not get care. Many problems can be spotted early, and serious complications can be avoided or minimized with intervention. The process of finding a provider can be difficult. Women of color are at much higher risk of having limited access to care. Once you find a provider it’s important to know exactly who you are seeing. Here is a brief review of the types of providers that you may see during pregnancy: OBSTETRICIAN GYNECOLOGISTS: An obstetrician gynecologist (OB-GYN) is a doctor (M.D. or D.O.) who has education and training to take care of pregnant women and deliver babies. They have experience performing
MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE PHYSICIANS A maternal fetal medicine physician (MFM) is an OB-GYN with advanced training in managing high-risk pregnancies. Many things can make your pregnancy high-risk such as having a history of high blood pressure or diabetes or if a problem is found on an ultrasound during the course of your prenatal care. MFM physicians have specialized training in complicated deliveries and have advanced surgical training. Regardless of what type of provider you choose, one thing is clear: Find a provider who you can trust. Your doctor should feel like more than just your provider, they should feel like your confidant and advocate. Remember, we can’t do our jobs without you; it should never feel like you’re an inconvenience to your provider. Don’t be afraid to talk to your provider about personal things. No one knows your body better than you and no concern is too slight for you to bring to the attention of your provider. If you feel like you can’t be open with your provider, then that’s not the provider for you. While the goal of each pregnancy is a healthy baby, equally important is the mental health and safety of mothers. Healthy moms are the foundation of healthy families both short term and long term. Healthy moms start with prenatal care.
vaginal deliveries as well as cesarean sections and can also manage gynecologic conditions such as fibroids and menopause. Your OB-GYN can take care of you throughout your entire life span which allows you to develop a
lasting trusting relationship. FAMILY MEDICINE PHYSICIANS
Family physicians are doctors that can take care of every member of your family. This patient can take care of you before, during and after your pregnancy. If you have a family physician that you see, find out if they take care of women during pregnancy. MIDWIVES Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are nurses with education and training to take care of women of all ages including pregnant women. They can work independently or as part of a team of OB-GYN and maternal fetal medicine providers. DOULAS Doulas are a critical component of the health care team. Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to families before, during and after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. Studies have shown repeatedly that doula support during pregnancy leads to improved outcomes.
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