How Will Your Obstetrician Help You Throughout Pregnancy?
Obstetrics is a field of medicine concerned with pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery. If you decide to give birth in a hospital, an obstetrician will be the doctor supervising your labor and delivery. However, the obstetrician's job doesn't start when you check into the hospital during labor. An obstetrician can provide necessary care for you throughout your pregnancy. Here are four things your doctor will do for you:
1. Measure your progress.
Your health determines the health of your baby. It's important to get routine checkups from your obstetrician throughout your pregnancy. At each appointment, your doctor will measure your weight to make sure your pregnancy is progressing as it should. They will also ask questions about your eating and sleeping patterns to make sure you're getting enough nutrients and rest. Your obstetrician is there to provide you with information and to watch out for any developing health problems.
2. Administer a test for gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that affects women during pregnancy. Even women who have never had diabetes can contract gestational diabetes, but you're more likely to get it if you're older or have a family history of diabetes. Your obstetrician will test you by having you drink a sugary solution on an empty stomach. They will wait for your body to process the drink, then test your blood sugar. If your body has not produced enough natural insulin during the waiting period, your blood sugar will be high, and you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Fortunately, this condition can be managed by avoiding high sugar foods during your pregnancy.
3. Tell you the sex of your baby.
Some parents prefer to know if they're having a boy or girl in advance, so they can prepare themselves. If you're interested in this knowledge, an obstetrician will be able to tell you the sex of your baby at your 16 week appointment. They will perform an ultrasound by rubbing sterile jelly on your belly and using an ultrasound wand. Your doctor will interpret the image on the ultrasound screen and tell if you can expect a boy or girl.
4. Help you cope with side effects.
Some people experience difficult pregnancies with many side effects, such as nausea. Frequent vomiting can dehydrate you and keep you from getting enough nutrients. If you're suffering from severe morning sickness, your obstetrician can prescribe you an anti-emetic. Anti-emetic drugs prevent vomiting, and they can help settle your stomach during pregnancy.
To learn more about how an obstetrician can help your pregnancy, contact an OBGYN like Xiao-Mei Zeng MD.
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