A common question asked by every woman: Is it necessary to meet an ob-gyn (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) during pregnancy?
In ancient days, women took care of themselves during pregnancy and after childbirth. But now, the health condition of the women decides the delivery status.
Pregnancy care can be done commonly by an OB-GYN as they are specialists in women’s pregnancy.
In this blog, you will get to know detailed information about the ob-gyn doctors and who should need their guidance.
Is it essential to meet an OB-GYN when I get pregnant?
Yes, it is necessary to meet your ob-gyn as soon as you get confirmation of your pregnancy. This ensures both the baby and you are safe and healthy during the whole pregnancy.
You should choose the best obstetrician-gynecologist to avoid risks at the time of delivery. Before meeting your ob-gyn, you will be asked to complete the pregnancy checklist so that your doctor can easily identify your pregnancy health.Â
Your ob-gyn doctor will be completely with you until and after you deliver a baby. The ob-gyn will be present inside the delivery ward to ensure that both the baby and mother are safe. After the delivery, the ob-gyn will also treat your baby with medical care as soon as the postpartum period is over.
Why should I meet my OB-GYN during pregnancy?
To get a healthy and safe birth during the delivery period you should get guidance from your ob-gyn. Your OB-GYN will help you with many aspects of pregnancy, like
- Prenatal care
- Complications during pregnancy
- Labor and delivery care
- Care after postpartum
Prenatal care
Sometimes, it will be helpful to meet your doctor before the pregnancy gets confirmed so that you can get proper guidance from them. However, it is necessary to fix an appointment with an ob-gyn once the pregnancy is confirmed.Â
Prenatal care from your OB-GYN doctor will help to analyze the growth and development of the baby in the womb. This helps to identify any risk factors that may occur in the future. Regular checkups, ultrasounds and tests, and nutritional and lifestyle checkups will be done regularly.Â
The regular checkups will be started after the confirmation of pregnancy and the checkup routine goes according to the pregnancy trimester.
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Checkup weeks | Period |
Every 4 to 6 weeks | In the first 32 weeks |
Every 2 to 3 weeks | From 32 to 37th week |
Every week | From 37th to till delivery |
Pregnancy complications
Sometimes, the mother and the baby inside the womb will have some complications. Even if the mother was healthy before the pregnancy, she might also have a chance of getting some complications during maternity.
To avoid the risks in the future you must visit an ob-gyn to get proper advice and monitoring by the doctor. Through these regular checkups, your doctor will identify the risks and start the medications immediately which should not give higher risks during labor.
The higher risks that women may face at the time of pregnancy are,
- Gestational diabetes: It is a common disease that some pregnant women may face during pregnancy. Some will get cured after the delivery, but in some cases, it is a risk for both the mother and baby at the time of delivery. To avoid this complication, your ob-gyn will start providing insulin in the early stage to avoid a last-minute emergency.
- Preeclampsia: It is a serious medical condition for both the mother and baby, which begins after 20 weeks. This is due to the high blood pressure in the body, which damages the other organ systems. During your checkups, your doctor will identify and start treatment accordingly.
- Preterm birth: Sometimes, the baby will get delivered before completing the 37 weeks. This will cause the baby to have poor development in physical and mental health. To avoid this, you should get monitored regularly with your ob-gyn doctor for a healthy birth.
- Other complications: Other complications like miscarriage, infections, and high blood pressure will cause a risk at the time of pregnancy. When you follow up with your doctor, you will be easily monitored by them, and you will have a higher chance of getting rid of these complications.
Labor and delivery
At the time of the labor and delivery, you will be completely under the control of your ob-gyn to avoid the maximum risks at the time of birth. Your ob-gyn doctor will plan your delivery time according to your health conditions.Â
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Delivery plan by ob-gyn: The delivery planning will be prepared perfectly by the doctors on whether to have a vaginal birth (normal delivery) or by doing Cesarian. So, by planning this, the mother and baby will be safe at the time of delivery.Â
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Labor support: Your doctor will guide you on how to manage the pain during delivery. So this will help you to get an idea of how to handle your delivery pain. The ob-gyn doctor will support you to deliver a healthy and safe baby.
Postpartum care
The ob-gyn will help you recover after the delivery. They will help you to balance your body condition and the pain in your vaginal.Â
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Monitoring your recovery: The ob-gyn will monitor your health so that you will not get affected by infections, vaginal soreness, or any other complications after your delivery. They will provide you with nutritious food to recover your health.
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Helps in breastfeeding: The ob-gyn will help you handle the baby during breastfeeding. They also help you in guiding any other risks that come with breastfeeding.
Should I need to meet my OB-GYN after the delivery?
Yes, it is essential to meet your ob-gyn after the delivery. They will provide medical care treatment to the baby and check the mother’s postpartum health. Also, you will be fixed with the appointments until the baby reaches one year to check its growth.Â
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You will also check whether you are facing any postpartum side effect problems or complications. The ob-gyn doctor will monitor you up to 6 weeks after the baby is born. They will check on breastfeeding to see whether there is sufficient milk supply to the newborn.Â
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The doctor will advise you regarding your sexual life after the delivery and monitor you on when to plan for the next baby if needed. You will be guided for your depression and emotional status after being a new mom. The doctor will suggest the right time for family planning if needed.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is a happy phase for every woman. It is essential to confirm your booking with the ob-gyn to have a safe and healthy journey towards your pregnancy. Choosing the best ob-gyn will ensure the safety of the mother and baby during maternity and after the delivery.
FAQs
What is the difference between an obstetrician and a gynaecologist?
An obstetrician focuses on prenatal care, postpartum care, and managing complications during pregnancy, while a gynecologist focuses on reproductive health organs.
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2. Do I need postpartum care from my ob-gyn?
Yes, it is necessary to meet your doctor to recover from the delivery, avoid complications after delivery, get breastfeeding guidance and advice in baby care, and avoid getting abnormal infections.
