Fact Sheet - Prenatal Care

• Women should take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily both before pregnancy and during the first few months of pregnancy to reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spine called neural tube defects.

• Women should take 30 milligrams of iron daily during pregnancy if, and only if, prescribed by their doctor to reduce the risk of anemia later in pregnancy.

• During pregnancy, a pregnant woman should tell her physician if she experiences any of the following: pain of any kind, strong cramps, uterine contractions at 20-minute intervals, vaginal bleeding, leaking of amniotic fluid, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, palpitations, tachycardia (rapid beating of the heart), constant nausea and vomiting, trouble walking, edema (swelling of joints), or if her baby has decreased activity.

• Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite that can seriously harm the human embryo and fetus. Pregnant women should avoid eating undercooked meat and handling cat litter, and wear gloves when gardening.

 

• Given the risk of vertical transmission of HIV from an infected mother to her fetus/infant, prenatal screening needs to include all pregnant women. Screening all women is especially vital since available perinatal treatment can reduce the risk of perinatal transmission by as much as two-thirds.

• Prenatal care should consist of at least these three components: health promotion, risk assessment, and intervention.

• Cigarette smoking during pregnancy has been associated with infertility, low birth weight, miscarriages, tubal pregnancies, infant mortality and childhood morbidity. Additionally, cigarette smoking may cause long-term learning disabilities.

• During pregnancy, health promotion consists of education and counseling activities that maintain and enhance health, support healthful behaviors, increase knowledge about pregnancy and parenting, and encourage a woman and her family to participate in the decisions needed during prenatal care.

• The consequences of obesity, such as diabetes and hypertension, are major causes of perinatal morbidity.

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