Your Health Affects Your Pregnancy

Your good health is one of the most important factors in your pregnancy. Good nutrition, proper exercise, sufficient rest and attention to how you care for yourself all affect your pregnancy.

We provide information about medications you may take, medical tests you may need, over-the-counter substances you might use and many other areas that may concern you. This information is necessary for you to be aware of how your actions affect your health and the health of your developing baby. The health care you receive can also affect your pregnancy and how well you tolerate being pregnant. Good health care is important to the development and well-being of your baby.

Your Healthcare Provider
You have many choices when it comes time to choose your healthcare provider. An obstetrician is a doctor who specializes in the care of pregnant women, including delivering babies. Obstetricians are M.D.s (medical doctors who have graduated from an accredited medical school and have fulfilled the requirements for a medical license) or D.O.s (doctors of osteopathic medicine who have graduated from an accredited school of osteopathic medicine and have fulfilled the requirements for a medical license). Both have completed further training after medical school (residency).

Obstetricians who specialize in high-risk pregnancies are perinatologists. Few women require a perinatologist (1 out of 10). Ask your doctor if you need to see a specialist, if you're concerned about past health problems. Some women choose a family practitioner because he or she is the family doctor. In some cases, an obstetrician may not be available because a community is small or in a remote area. The family practitioner often serves as your internist, obstetrician/gynecologist and pediatrician. Many family practitioners are experienced at delivering babies. If problems arise, a family practitioner may need to refer you to an obstetrician for your prenatal care. This may also be the case if a Cesarean section is required for delivery of your baby.

Pregnant women sometimes choose certified nurse-midwives for their care. A certified nurse-midwife is a trained professional who delivers low-risk uncomplicated pregnancies. These professionals are registered nurses with additional training and certification in nurse-midwifery. They require the immediate availability of a physician, in case complications arise.

Communication Is Important
It's important to be able to communicate well with your healthcare provider. Pregnancy and delivery are individual experiences. You need to be able to ask your doctor any questions you have, such as those below.
•   What about natural childbirth? Do you believe in it?
•   Are there routines you perform on every patient? Does everyone get an enema, fetal monitoring or more?
•   Who covers patient care for you when you are away?
•   Are there other doctors I will meet or who will take care of me?

Express your concerns and talk about whatever is important to you. Your healthcare provider has experience involving hundreds or thousands of deliveries and is drawing on this for your well-being. Your caregiver has to consider what is best for you and your baby, while he or she tries to honor any "special" requests you may have. Don't be afraid to ask any question; your doctor has probably already heard it. It may be that a request is unwise or risky for you, but it's important to ask about it ahead of time. If a request is possible, you can plan for it together, barring unforeseen developments.

Finding the Right Caregiver for You
How do you find someone who "fits the bill"? If you already have an obstetrician you're happy with, you may be all set. If you don't, call your local medical society. Ask for references to professionals who are taking new patients for pregnancy.

An added credential is board certification. Not all doctors who deliver babies are board-certified. It is not a requirement. Board certification means your doctor has put in extra time preparing for and taking exams to qualify him or her to care for pregnant women and to deliver their babies.
Board certification is administered by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, under the direction of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. If your doctor has passed his or her boards, it is often indicated by the initials F.A.C.O.G. after the doctor's name. This means he or she is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Your local medical society can also give you this information.

There are other ways to find a caregiver you'll be happy with. Ask friends who have recently had a baby about their experiences. Ask the opinion of a labor-delivery nurse at your local hospital. Various publications, such as the Directory of Medical Specialties or the Directory of the American Medical Association, are available at most U. S. libraries. In Canada, refer to the Canadian Medical Directory. Another doctor, such as a pediatrician or internist, may also provide a reference.