Overview
Prenatal care can sometimes be referred to as antenatal or antepartum care. Achieving healthy pregnancy outcomes is a multifaceted and sometimes complex course. Ongoing prenatal care is a process in which risk factors may occur or change from month to month.
The Main Goals of Prenatal Care
- Determining the gestational age of the fetus and monitor fetal development
- Defining health status of the mother and fetus(es)
- Identifying the woman at risk for complications and minimize the risk whenever possible
- Providing appropriate education and counseling
The patient–healthcare provider relationship is critical from the time of a pregnant patient’s initial obstetrician visit through the post-partum period after birth when the physiologic changes related to pregnancy return to the nonpregnant state.
Continued contact with the patient throughout pregnancy enables the healthcare provider to identify and assess potential problems that may place the mother and/or the fetus in danger.
Pregnancy at any time can be categorized as low risk or high risk. A pregnancy may be considered high-risk if there are pre-existing conditions or morbidities.
High-Risk Conditions Can Include, But Are Not Limited To:
- Lupus
- Fetal health concerns
- Hypertension
- Obesity and weight gain
- Infections
- Thyroid disease
- Heart or blood disorders
- Asthma
- Epilepsy
- Advanced maternal age
- Autoimmune disorders
- Renal (kidney) problems
- Genetic
- HIV/AIDS
- Cancer
- Post-dates
- Preeclampsia
- Placenta Previa
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum
- Gestational diabetes
- Macrosomia
- Infection
If a pregnant patient is considered high-risk before or during a pregnancy a high-risk obstetrical care specialist, Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) or perinatologist may oversee or participate in the patient’s care. These specialists manage pregnancies that are complicated by multiple gestations (twins or triplets), gestational type I or type II diabetes, preeclampsia, pre-existing health conditions or other new conditions that develop during pregnancy.
We Can Help Answer Your Questions
If you believe that you, or your baby, have suffered an injury due to improper prenatal care, or failure to diagnose or treat a high-risk pregnancy, we may be able to help.
Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation
Call 1.800.552.7115 or complete our free case evaluation form to speak to a medical analyst who understands. There is no charge for this call or evaluation.
Our attorneys handle matters primarily in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
