Inside: 3 Critical Health Checks Every Mother Should Demand During Pregnancy. Collaborative post.
Pregnancy can be an incredible and magical experience, but it can also be a bit scary at times. All the cravings, all the questions related to parenting, and the nagging worry about nurturing a fragile body can make you think you’re out of control.
However, there’s one thing about pregnancy where you can’t afford to lose control: prenatal care. To ensure everything is going fine, you must talk to your doctor and demand some important health checks.
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Screening
Approximately one in five pregnant women carries Group B Streptococcus, a bacterium that doesn’t affect the mother much but can harm the baby during delivery. This is why screening for GBS needs to be your priority, and you must ensure that your doctor understands and explains the risks too.
If you’re a GBS carrier and your doctors overlook it, your newborn may contract a serious infection, including bacterial meningitis. This is what happens when a bacterial infection reaches the meninges, or the protective membranes that cover your spinal cord and brain.
This infection can result in brain damage, hearing problems, seizures, developmental delays, or in extreme cases, lifelong disability.
However, if these infections aren’t discovered early, you may choose to pursue it in court, especially when you have grounds to believe it happened due to preventable medical errors. You can file an infant meningitis lawsuit and receive millions in compensation, depending on your unique circumstances.
You will also have to work with legal experts who also understand the methods and tactics to prove permanent brain damage due to a missed diagnosis.
Maternal Infections Screening
Your initial bloodwork during pregnancy screens numerous things, but maternal infections require a closer look. And it’s not just about screening for Group B Strep infections. Ideally, you should also be screened for gestational diabetes, urinary tract infections, and other viral infections.
If left untreated, infections may cause preterm labor, neonatal infections, or low birth weight. At this stage, your baby’s immunity is not fully developed, making them particularly vulnerable to contracting infections during the birthing process.
Therefore, you must not assume that “standard” blood tests are sufficient to rule out dangerous infections and talk to your doctor about your concerns to manage things better.
Blood Pressure and Preeclampsia Monitoring
Your blood pressure is always checked at each prenatal visit, and it can sometimes feel like a box-ticking exercise. However, you need your blood pressure monitored to catch certain complications early, including preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is when your blood pressure is high and there’s protein in your urine. This situation can be fatal to you and the baby, especially if preeclampsia turns into eclampsia/HELLP syndrome. The problem is that preeclampsia can develop suddenly, which is why early detection can prevent serious complications.
If it’s not detected and treated on time, preeclampsia can also lead to serious conditions, such as strokes, organ failure, and labor complications that can also increase the risk of birth injuries. Therefore, when your BP readings start going up, don’t just treat it as a number. Instead, be quick to make some lifestyle changes and work with your doctor to prevent complications.
Pregnancy care doesn’t have to be overly complicated, but you should still be vigilant about certain things. Asking for these three crucial health checkups is not about being demanding, but it’s about making sure your baby’s health isn’t compromised. Your physicians will appreciate it and you’ll have more peace of mind knowing you won’t have to face any complications during delivery.