Title: Prenatal care in the United States - Wikipedia
Headings: Prenatal care in the United States
Prenatal care in the United States
Contents
Background
Schedule
Pre-conception counseling
Vaccination
Influenza vaccination
Rubella
Varicella
Tetanus and pertussis
Attitudes towards prenatal care
Positive influences
Negative influences
Disparities in accessibility
Low-socioeconomic areas
Minorities' access
Latina paradox
Contributing factors
Unintended pregnancy
Health insurance
Formal education
Consequences from lack of prenatal care
Delivery complications
Low birth weight
Congenital malformations
Infant mortality
Improving prenatal care
Preventing unintended pregnancy
Connection between physicians and patients
Increase insurance
Community outreach programs
See also
References

Content: Suggested steps to improve prenatal care in the United States include the implementation of community-based health care programs, and the increase in number of those insured. Contents
1 Background
2 Schedule
2.1 Pre-conception counseling
3 Vaccination
3.1 Influenza vaccination
3.2 Rubella
3.3 Varicella
3.4 Tetanus and pertussis
4 Attitudes towards prenatal care
4.1 Positive influences
4.2 Negative influences
5 Disparities in accessibility
5.1 Low-socioeconomic areas
5.2 Minorities' access
5.2.1 Latina paradox
5.3 Contributing factors
5.3.1 Unintended pregnancy
5.3.2 Health insurance
5.3.3 Formal education
6 Consequences from lack of prenatal care
6.1 Delivery complications
6.2 Low birth weight
6.3 Congenital malformations
6.4 Infant mortality
7 Improving prenatal care
7.1 Preventing unintended pregnancy
7.2 Connection between physicians and patients
7.3 Increase insurance
7.4 Community outreach programs
8 See also
9 References
Background
Main article: Prenatal care
Prenatal care is health care provided to pregnant women as a type of preventive care with the goal of providing regular check-ups that allow obstetricians - gynecologists or midwives to detect, treat and prevent potential health problems throughout the course of the pregnancy while promoting healthy lifestyles that benefit both mother and child. Health professionals instruct mothers on prenatal nutrition, the benefits of breastfeeding, life style changes, injury and illness prevention, and methods to monitor potentially dangerous health conditions. Medical professionals also inform the mother on the birthing process and basic skills for taking care of a new born. During visits physicians determine the due date, family and medical history, conduct a physical exam and pelvic exam, and run various blood work. Physicians also conduct ultrasounds to monitor the baby's health periodically throughout the pregnancy. Ultrasounds are used to measure fetus growth, heartbeats, movement, and the identification of physically identifiable abnormalities. Regular check-ups allow physicians to assess changes to the mothers' blood pressure, weight, uterus size, protein supplies from urine samples, and various diseases such as diabetes through screen tests. Prenatal care serves as a tool to inform mothers on common concerns, and on methods to take care of themselves (amount of rest needed, the proper nutritional diet, etc.).