What happens at a prenatal check-up

During prenatal care, a midwife or health worker will ask about past pregnancies and births, including any problems, such as a lot of bleeding or babies that died. This information can help you both prepare for similar problems in this pregnancy.

A midwife may also be able to:

• make sure a woman is eating well enough and suggest ways for her to eat better food, if necessary.
• give iron and folic acid tablets, which help prevent anemia and birth defects.
• examine the mother, to make sure she is healthy and that the baby is growing well.
• give vaccinations to prevent tetanus, a disease that can kill both mothers and babies.
• give medicine to prevent malaria if it is common in the area.
• give tests for HIV and syphilis, along with other sexually transmitted infections.
• give medicines to prevent a woman's HIV from spreading to her baby.

Sources

• Felicitas Heyne, Psychologist
• Audiopedia ID: en010717