Your first responsibilty as a parent is to find a good midwife or physician. Looking for a midwife or physician can be very tiring.
Read books, research the web, and ask the moms at your church who they are using and why. Before you decide on who you want as your caregiver interview all the possibilites and pray for guidance.
Remember that childbirth is not a disease and does not need to be treated as one. Certain test at different times of your pregnancy can give information that will benefit both you and your baby. On this web page I want to discuss the different basic tests offer and the reasons they are offered. Ignorant is not bliss, educate yourself by reading and studying the different articles. Please pray about each decsion that you will make.
Also on this visit other cultures are offered: Urine Culture (this culture is to see if you have an infection or a carrier of BStrep), Vaginal Cultures (this test is to rule out gonorrhea, chlymadia, BStrep, other vaginal infections), and PAP smear (to rule out cancer). Some midwives like to do a PAP after the birth especially if the cervix is friable.
On the 28 week visit the midwife usually performs a glucose tolerance test and also does a CBC to check for anemia. The mom who is Rh neg is tested again for antibodies and is offered Rhogam.
Ultrasound is not necessary but can help in the following ways: if you are unsure of your dates, rule out twins, to rule out different presentations like breech, lack of fetal movement, to determine amniotic fluid amounts or how well the placenta is doing, location of placenta. If you do not have any risks ultra sound can be costly and not necessary. Other test usually offered or just done without inform consent are: 1) Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein test: this test is offered at 16 weeks gestation. This test is used to detect anemcephaly, spina bifida, or other neural tube defects. Research pros and cons on this, be informed. 2) Amniocentesis: this test is offered to women having children over age 35. Again, please be informed before making this decsion.
On each visit the midwife will do a blood pressure, urine dip stick to check for proteins, glucose, nitrates, ketones, etc., measure the growth of your uterus, listen to hearttones (by fetascope or doppler; if you use a doppler the literature is not available on long term effects), finding position of the baby, check for swelling, go over nutrition, educate the client on size of the baby and what parts are growing, etc. The visit usually takes between 30 minutes to a hour.
How often you visit the midwife is universal: once a month until 28 weeks, every two weeks until 36 weeks and then weekly until the birth. Of course is there is a problem with preterm labor you would see mom weekly earlier.
Prenatal Care is very important and can catch potential problems early. Having a good relationship with your caregiver and asking questions will both benefit you and your baby. Try to schedule the appointments around the dad's schedule. It is important that he feels part of the whole process. It also helps the dad to bond earlier with the baby.
Hopefully this page has taught you to STUDY, READ, ASK QUESTIONS, and BE INFORMED. My prayer for you is that you take the time to be informed in your childbirth experience.
