Prenatal Care: Important for Mom, Baby and Beyond
Above: When expectant mother Chelsea Anderson, 21, found out she was pregnant, she received services from Parkview Health, Healthier Moms and Babies, and the Zeta Eta Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority. See below for more prenatal services and programs. [ART: VICKI JUNK-WRIGHT/FORT WAYNE]
Written by Erin Norton, Director of Community Outreach, Parkview Health Women’s & Children’s Services
According to the Indiana State Department of Health, in 2016 only 38.5% of Allen County women began receiving prenatal care in the first trimester of their pregnancy. There are countless reasons why this may be occurring, such as a lack of transportation, women don’t realize they are pregnant or perhaps they are unsure about their insurance coverage. Some women may not see the value in prenatal care, likely because they feel healthy and pregnancy is a natural process. However, high quality prenatal care is extremely important to a healthy pregnancy, a healthy baby and ultimately, it can set the stage for better health across a woman’s lifespan.
What is Prenatal Care?
Prenatal care appointments should begin during the first trimester and occur regularly. As the pregnancy progresses, the appointments will become more frequent.
Prenatal care includes a comprehensive patient history, physical examinations, lab tests, screenings and education. Some things, like blood pressure or height and weight, are quick and easy. Don’t let the ease of these tests take away from their importance. For example, high blood pressure may be an early sign of a condition called preeclampsia. If this is a problem, early detection is critical.
On the other hand, it may take weeks or months for a woman to really feel comfortable with her care team. This relationship is best fostered by getting to know one another over time. Another thing to remember is that every pregnancy is different -- just because something wasn’t an issue in one pregnancy doesn’t mean it won’t happen the next time around.
More Than a Care Plan
A comprehensive health history provides the care team with valuable information on what risk factors the woman may face. Previous pregnancy outcomes, past surgeries and family history may all influence the plan of care. A person’s health does not begin and end inside the clinic or hospital walls. It is becoming more common for providers to assess things like access to fresh fruits and vegetables, social support and exercise habits, which all influence health.
Prenatal care is a time for learning. Some foods aren’t recommended for pregnant women. Some medications are safe, and some are not. While websites, friends and family members may offer advice, it may not be the most accurate or up-to-date. Prenatal care appointments provide one-on-one time with an expert to ask these important questions.
For many women, pregnancy is motivation to become healthier. Knowing that their lifestyle is also affecting their babies, women are often receptive to do things like improve their diets or quit smoking. We are fortunate that Fort Wayne has many resources available to help moms on this journey, but many women don’t know what all is available. Connections to resources and health improvements made during prenatal care can have effects that go far beyond the nine months of pregnancy.
Care Beyond Delivery
While the birth of the baby does not signal the end of care, studies show that about 40 percent of women do not attend a postpartum visit to their care team. This is unfortunate because postpartum care is also important, giving women and their care providers an opportunity to discuss family planning, review any complications that may have occurred, address ongoing chronic health issues and assess for mental health concerns.
Prenatal care is important because it affects both the mother’s and the baby’s health. Pregnancy is also a pivotal time in a woman’s life and quality care and support during the prenatal period may allow for better health far beyond her pregnancy.
Vicki Junk-Wright’s work can be found at ArtWrightWorkshops.com.
RESOURCES FOR NEW AND EXPECTANT PARENTS
Footprints Fort Wayne is a collective of 22 organizations have adopted a set of principles and have agreed to work together, be equitable, co-create solutions with families, improve systems, constantly communicate and collectively grow their knowledge. Below are just a handful of community partners under the Footprints Fort Wayne umbrella and their direct contact info. Keep reading the FWIS for the paper’s efforts toward prenatal care education and info distribution.
Footprints Fort Wayne, website: FootprintsFortWayne.com
Healthier Moms and Babies, 1025 West Rudisill Blvd., offers health education and case management services to low-income, high-risk pregnant women and their families. Phone: 260.469.4076 and website: HealthierMomsAndBabies.org.
St. Joseph Community Health Foundation prenatal resource directories, local, free, and low-cost resources: SJCHF.org/PICResources and SJCHF.org/Directories
Zeta Eta Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, professional nursing sorority that provides safe sleep education classes, including distributing free Pack ‘n Play portable cribettes. Call the 260.385.4705. Each registered mother must meet the following requirements: must be least 8 months pregnant or have an infant less than one-year-old, must be in attendance for the full one-hour session, and does not own a crib or have a safe place for baby to sleep.
Neighborhood Health Clinics, Inc., 1717 South Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne Indiana 46802 & 3350 East Paulding Road, Fort Wayne Indiana 46816, phone: 260.458.2641, website: NHCI.org.
Parkview Health, website: Parkview.com. For Ob/Gyn patients, call 260.425.6650.