What is prenatal care?
Prenatal care refers to personalized medical care and support throughout pregnancy, and can involve:
- Checkups
- Ultrasounds
- Physical exams
- Routine diagnostic testing
- Medical history evaluations
These appointments are performed by your Obstetrician and give you valuable time to ask questions and share your concerns related to your pregnancy. You’ll also undergo an in-depth medical history evaluation.
These visits are important through each trimester. Your first prenatal visit usually happens when you’re around eight weeks pregnant. Prenatal visits typically occur monthly until the third trimester, when prenatal visits should be scheduled on a biweekly basis.
It is encouraged that during your prenatal care you look for a pediatrician and make an appointment for a prenatal visit. The prenatal visit with your pediatrician helps you learn more about what to expect after your baby is born and for you to familiarize yourself with your baby’s future doctor. This will make you more informed and comfortable when your new family member arrives.
What is newborn care?
Newborn care is pediatric medical care and support for you and your newborn following childbirth. Newborn care can involve a variety of services, testing, and treatments, depending on the individual needs of your baby.
It’s important that before you leave the hospital with your new family member, you have clear and realistic expectations, and you feel comfortable with newborn care basics, such as handling a newborn, bathing and dressing your baby, and taking your newborn’s temperature.
Newborn care also involves your baby’s first doctor visit and recurring visits during this important initial phase of life. This is a great time to ask any infant care questions you might have and discuss important services, such as what vaccines your baby needs and when. Vaccines can protect them from a range of viruses and serious infectious diseases.
Your baby will develop rapidly, experiencing many changes during the first year of life. Working with a qualified pediatrician can help you gain a better understanding of infancy and childhood development, and the best ways to protect your child’s health.
What is a premature infant?
A premature newborn refers to a baby delivered before 37 weeks. Premature newborns can have a number of health conditions and problems, such as underdeveloped organs that might not be ready to function properly outside of the womb.
Premature newborns might have more difficulty feeding and breathing, and are prone to infections, bleeding in the brain, and other complications.
With the right medical care, most premature newborns grow to be healthy and normal.
The pediatricians at Southern Nevada Pediatric Center provide care for newborns at various nearby hospitals as well. Call the office or book online to learn more about prenatal and newborn care.
