Important Issues to Address When Visiting an Obstetrician for the First Time

28 September 2020
 Categories: Health & Medical , Blog

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Getting medical guidance during pregnancy is an essential step in maintaining the health of mother and baby. Thus, it is crucial to visit an obstetrician immediately you learn about your pregnancy. An obstetrician is a medical professional who specialises in medical care during pregnancy and after birth. They check how the pregnancy is progressing and offer valuable information that could help a mother during pregnancy and postpartum. When planning for your first visit with the specialist, it's crucial to address the following issues which could affect the outcome and experience of your pregnancy.

Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Most women experience weight gain during pregnancy. But how do you tell how much gain is normal? At what point would the weight become a health risk for the baby? It's crucial to address this matter with your obstetrician. If you were already dealing with unhealthy weight gain before the pregnancy, the obstetrician can advise on measures to prevent unhealthy gain. They can also offer tips on how to curb cravings which usually result in excessive weight gain, especially during the second trimester.

Exercising During Pregnancy

Regular exercises are not only great for overall wealth, but they can also ease the birthing experience. However, not all forms of exercise are suitable for pregnant women. Also, if you weren't physically active before pregnancy, engaging in vigorous exercises can be harmful to the baby. Therefore, talk to your obstetrician about this. They can offer advice on whether to exercise and the best workouts for pregnancy. If you have been working out before, they can ask you to drop some workouts and incorporate baby-friendly ones.

Diet Issues

Pregnancy is characterised by food cravings and aversions. You may find yourself loving unhealthy foods such as fatty diets and sweet snacks and detesting healthy vegetables, fruits and drinks. Unfortunately, diet can impact the health of your growing baby. Talk to your obstetrician about any food aversions and cravings you have. Ask about the best foods depending on your general health and weight. The specialist should also recommend the best vitamins and supplements to add to your diet to promote the health of the baby.

Normal vs. High-Risk Pregnancy

Some people experience complications during pregnancy. For example, underlying reproductive health problems can affect the development of the baby. Similarly, chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes pose a great risk to a pregnancy. It is crucial to determine whether you have a normal or high-risk pregnancy based on your health. If you're carrying a high-risk pregnancy, your obstetrician can help provide measures to protect the baby throughout the gestation period till birth.

Pregnancy can bring about a lot of uncertainty, which can cause anxiety in a new mom. Address the above issues with your obstetrician to ensure a smooth pregnancy.