Prenatal Women Health Care
Prenatal genetic counseling is provided for all prospective parents, ideally before
conception, to assess risk factors for congenital disorders. Certain precautions to help
prevent birth defects (e.g., avoiding teratogens. read more, taking supplemental folic
acid Diet and supplements.)
This is called prenatal care. It also involves education and counseling about how to
handle different aspects of your pregnancy. During your visits, your doctor may discuss
many issues, such as healthy eating and physical activity, screening tests you might
need, and what to expect during labor and delivery.
Prenatal counseling is important to reduce the risk of adverse health effects during
pregnancy by working with the woman to optimize her health, address modifiable risk
factors and provide education about what a healthy pregnancy should look like.
The three main components of prenatal care are risk assessment, health promotion and
education, and therapeutic intervention. High-quality prenatal care can prevent or lead
to timely recognition and treatment of maternal and fetal complications.
During prenatal genetic counseling, the counselor will review your health history, your
potentially dangerous exposures, and the results of prenatal tests. Your genetic
counselor can provide support and guidance for your next step if your baby does have a
problem.