Planned Parenthood guidance on prenatal care
The key to having a healthy baby is taking good care of your own health. The healthier you are, the stronger you and your baby are likely to be.
We all want to be healthy, but sometimes it is hard to know what we should do. If you are pregnant, or thinking about becoming pregnant, you may have some questions. Here are some of the most common questions we hear women ask about prenatal care.
What is prenatal care?
The first prenatal care visit is usually the longest. The examination is very thorough. You will be asked questions about your medical history. You will also be asked about your partner’s medical history and your family’s medical history. You will have a complete physical exam. Your health care provider will measure your height, weight, blood pressure, breathing, and pulse.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you traveled to a country with Zika or think your partner has Zika. They may test you for Zika and check to see if the baby has it, too.
Planned Parenthood guidance on abortion
Before your abortion, you’ll meet with your nurse, doctor, or health center counselor to talk about whether abortion is the right decision for you, and what your abortion options are. You’ll get an exam and lab tests, and may get an ultrasound to figure out how far into your pregnancy you are.
How do abortions work?
Before your abortion, you’ll get pain medicine to help with cramping. You may be able to get sedation during the abortion. With some kinds of sedation, you’re awake but super relaxed, and with others you are completely asleep. You’ll also get antibiotics to help prevent infections.
Once you’re in the procedure room, there will be a staff member there to help the doctor and support you during the abortion.
During a D&E abortion, the doctor or nurse will:
- examine your uterus
- put a speculum in to see into your vagina
- inject a numbing medication into or near your cervix
- stretch the opening of your cervix with a serious of dilating rods
- insert a thin tube through your cervix into your uterus
- use a combination of medical tools and a suction device to gently take the pregnancy tissue out of your uterus
Once the procedure is done, you’ll hang out in a recovery area until you feel better and are ready to leave.
Source: Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.
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