Caring for Two: Why Prenatal Care Makes a Difference

by Mikale Kuntz

January 2025

Each prenatal appointment is a part of ensuring a safe and healthy pregnancy for mom and baby. Although these check-ups might feel simple or unnecessary, these appointments focus on early detection of many conditions related to the health of moms and baby and preparing for a safe delivery.

Anyone thinking about becoming pregnant or currently pregnant should consider taking a daily prenatal vitamin. These contain many vitamins and minerals that mom might not be getting enough of in typical diets, like iron and folic acid. Folic acid helps prevent birth defects by helping baby's spine and brain develop properly. Iron helps make red blood cells to supply oxygen to mom and baby.

Though prenatal vitamins are safe during pregnancy, there are also hundreds of medications and supplements that can be unsafe for baby. So, medication use is reviewed at almost every visit and providers can prescribe safe alternatives if needed.

In addition to regular medication review, each appointment tracks the baby's development and checks on the mom's health. Even if pregnancies in the past have been uncomplicated, issues can arise at any time. Regular visits allow providers to test for and detect any signs of changes early, increasing the likelihood of managing them effectively.

One such condition doctors are on the alert for is preeclampsia. Preeclampsia leads to very high blood pressure. If left untreated, it can affect the blood and oxygen flow to baby and lead to other complications for mom. Checking blood pressure and urine tests during appointments helps identify this condition for further management.

NIPS, or noninvasive prenatal screening, is one of many blood tests offered in pregnancy. NIPS is optional and can be done as early as 10 weeks into the pregnancy. It screens for baby's gender as well as several genetic differences such as Down Syndrome. NIPS is a screening test so positive results are further evaluated to help plan for baby's potential needs before they arrive.

A test for gestational diabetes (GDM) typically happens around week 28 of pregnancy, where mom has a blood draw after drinking a sugar-packed drink. GDM is different from other types of diabetes because many women who usually have normal blood sugar can develop high blood sugar during pregnancy. If needed, dietary changes and medications to manage blood sugar might be prescribed to prevent any related problems for mom or baby.

Down the road at the 36-week appointment, another screening test is done for group B strep (GBS). This is a quick and painless swab that tests for a common bacteria that usually isn't a problem for someone who isn't pregnant. If a mother tests positive for GBS, it doesn't mean she's sick – it just means she'll receive antibiotics during labor to help prevent the bacteria from being transferred to the baby during delivery. This is because in newborns, GBS can cause very serious infections, including meningitis, an infection of the lining that covers the brain.

Furthermore, at these later visits, mothers learn about what to expect during labor and delivery and review any concerns as their bodies continue to change. Later visits also help monitor baby's position, track progression toward labor, catch any last-minute complications, and discuss delivery options if complications arise.

In summary, from the first to the last, each prenatal visit and offered testing provides unique, essential information for a healthy pregnancy journey and are all important to ensure both a healthy mom and baby.

About the Author

Mikale Kuntz is a third-year medical student at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Kuntz was selected as one of the Hettinger participants for the school's ROME program, or Rural Opportunities in Medical Education. Part of the ROME program teaches student doctors how rural newspapers can be partners for disseminating health information. The information presented here is not intended for diagnosis or treatment and should not be used in place of previous medical advice provided by a licensed provider.