Prenatal care

It is provided in the form of medical checkups, consisting of recommendations on managing a healthy lifestyle and the provision of medical information such as maternal physiological changes in pregnancy, biological changes, and prenatal nutrition including prenatal vitamins, which prevents potential health problems throughout the course of the pregnancy and promotes the mother and child's health alike.

[3] However, when this was tested, women with fewer visits had babies who were much more likely to be admitted to neonatal intensive care and stay there for longer (though this could down to chance results).

[3] Therefore, it is doubtful that the reduced visits model is ideal, even in low income countries (LICs), where pregnant women are already attending fewer appointments.

[citation needed] In many countries, women are given a summary of their case notes including important background information about their pregnancy, such as their medical history, growth charts and any scan reports.

Physical examinations generally consist of: In some countries, such as the UK, the symphysial fundal height (SFH) is measured as part of antenatal appointments from 25 weeks gestation.

[13]) A review into this practice found only one piece of research so there is not enough evidence to say whether measuring the SFH helps to detect small or large babies.

[15] More research is needed before the customized growth charts are recommended because they cost more money and take more time for the health care workers to make.

[18] The different ways of giving feedback affect how much the parents worry and the mother's health behaviour although there is not enough evidence to make clear conclusions.

[18] Women experiencing a complicated pregnancy may have a test called a Doppler ultrasound to look at the blood flow to their unborn baby.

[21] Pregnant individuals with minimal activity may experience lower overall fitness and muscle tone, which can impact the body's ability to manage the physical demands of labor.

In contrast, those who gained more weight during pregnancy or had larger arm and calf circumferences were more likely to undergo cesarean delivery, particularly in cases of nonprogressive labor.

[21] Regular moderate exercise may help enhance pelvic muscle tone and cardiovascular fitness, potentially reducing the likelihood of cesarean intervention by supporting the body's endurance during labor.

For individuals seeking to engage in levels of vigorous or high intensity physical activity, one study did observe a slight increase in instrumental delivery, which involves the use of medical tools like forceps or vacuum devices.

[21] More intense physical activity may add extra demands on the body, potentially affecting labor progression and increasing the need for instrumental assistance.

[citation needed] It is important for pregnant individuals to consult with their healthcare provider before beginning or adjusting exercise routines, particularly if they are new to regular physical activity or have any health conditions that may affect pregnancy.