Prenatal care

Prenatal care, also known as antenatal care, is a type of <a href="/facts/Preventive_healthcare/pWGlacXu">preventive healthcare</a> for pregnant individuals. It is provided in the form of medical checkups and healthy lifestyle recommendations. Also, prenatal care consists of educating the pregnant individual about maternal physiological changes in pregnancy, biological changes, and prenatal nutrition; all of which prevent potential health problems throughout the course of the pregnancy and promote the mother and child's health. The availability of routine prenatal care, including <a href="/facts/Prenatal_diagnosis/XIYk6swb">prenatal screening and diagnosis</a>, has played a part in reducing the frequency of <a href="/facts/Maternal_death/UquTVxdf">maternal death</a>, <a href="/facts/Miscarriage/sFq0vdnU">miscarriages</a>, <a href="/facts/Birth_defects/ESfzQhTx">birth defects</a>, <a href="/facts/Low_birth_weight/IxqAPaKn">low birth weight</a>, <a href="/facts/Neonatal_infection/x0paGyh3">neonatal infections</a>, and other preventable health problems.
Traditional prenatal care in high-income countries generally consists of:

<ul><li>monthly visits during the first two <a href="/facts/Pregnancy/vEKYGpep">trimesters</a> (from the 1st week to the 28th week)</li>
<li>fortnightly visits from the 28th week to the 36th week of pregnancy</li>
<li>weekly visits after 36th week to the delivery, from the 38th week to the 42nd week</li>
<li>Assessment of parental needs and family dynamics</li></ul>
The traditional form of antenatal care has developed from the early 1900s and there is very little research to suggest that it is the best way of giving antenatal care. Antenatal care can be costly and uses many staff. The following paragraphs describe research on other forms of antenatal care, which may reduce the burden on maternity services in all countries.

Prenatal care open-in-new

Prenatal care