Prenatal Care
Prenatal care is essential to prepare for the birth of your child. There is a lot to keep track of during pregnancy to protect mothers and babies, which can confuse new parents. Prenatal care helps simplify the process by providing you with guidance throughout the entirety of your pregnancy.
Below, you’ll learn more about the importance of prenatal care, what to expect from your visits and prenatal advice to help improve the health of yourself and your baby throughout your pregnancy.
What Is Prenatal Care?
Prenatal care refers to getting routine checkups from nurses, doctors or midwives throughout pregnancy. Prenatal care is important for your baby’s health and your well-being as a mother. Care can start during pre-pregnancy planning, but if this isn’t possible, it’s best to start prenatal care as soon as you know you’re pregnant.
During your prenatal visits, your doctor, nurse or midwife will observe your baby’s development while focusing on improving your health and well-being, which influences your baby’s health. You should speak with your doctor about prenatal care as soon as you become pregnant.
Prenatal Care vs. Perinatal Care
Prenatal care refers to the regular checkups women undergo while pregnant. Perinatal care refers to the health care women receive during and directly after the birth of their child. Many women who receive perinatal care have high-risk pregnancies, or the mother or child has a severe medical condition. Perinatal care can include:
- Screening tests for congenital disabilities and diagnosis
- Care for congenital disabilities, such as congenital heart disease, bladder outlet obstructions and pleural effusion or fluid in the lungs
- Post-birth surgeries due to perinatal conditions in newborns
- Care for heart defects
- Support and guidance for the transition home after the birth
Many reasons exist that a child or mother might need perinatal care during or after birth. Prenatal care can help reduce the risk of complications during childbirth, so it’s always best to consult your doctor as soon as you become pregnant.
Benefits of Prenatal Care
Prenatal care helps improve the health of the mother and fetus, increasing the chance of a successful birth and a healthy child. There are many benefits of prenatal care, including the following:
- Reducing pregnancy complication risks: Prenatal care can help reduce complications by providing prenatal care guidelines to keep you in good health. Some of these guidelines or instructions include participating in moderate exercise, controlling preexisting conditions, eating a good diet and avoiding using or being around harmful substances, such as drugs and alcohol.
- Reducing fetus and infant complications: Using substances during pregnancy can significantly increase the risk of health defects in fetuses and newborns. Substances like tobacco, alcohol and drugs can cause numerous complications, such as physical abnormalities, cardiovascular issues and mental health issues. Prenatal care will help you learn how to stay away from substances while pregnant and monitor the health of your fetus during each trimester.
- Ensuring adequate vitamins and nutrients for the mother and child: Prenatal vitamins are essential for the health of the mother and child. During your prenatal visits, a medical professional will be able to give you recommendations on what vitamins to take during your pregnancy to ensure your and your baby’s health. Folic acid is a popular ingredient in prenatal vitamins because it can help reduce the risk of various defects by more than 70%.
- Ensuring medications are safe during pregnancy: Some medicines aren’t safe to take while pregnant and can increase the risks of adverse health effects for the fetus and child. During your prenatal visit, your doctor will ask what medications you’re taking and determine which are safe to use while providing alternatives for those that aren’t.
Different Types of Prenatal Care
Prenatal care includes more than just a couple of ultrasounds and a few doctor’s visits. You’ll go through different tests and exams to measure your and your baby’s health. Some of the different types of care you can expect during your visits include:
- Testing: Your doctor will perform the necessary testing to check your and your baby’s health. Some of these include tests for blood, infection, anemia, diabetes and other things that could affect the mother or fetus’ health. You’ll also receive screening tests to look for possible conditions your baby may have, such as Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis or gestational diabetes.
- Checkups: Regular checkups are an essential part of prenatal care. These checkups will monitor your baby’s growth and your overall health and well-being. You’ll likely have an ultrasound during your checkups, and you may undergo additional testing to check different things, such as your hormone levels.
- Activity monitoring: Once you reach a particular stage of your pregnancy, your doctor will monitor your baby’s activity, looking for regular movement or irregularities that require your doctor’s care. Counting your baby’s movement at home and reporting the movement to your doctor can help you assess your baby’s activity better. Call your doctor immediately if you don’t feel any activity at all once you’ve reached 28 weeks.
You may undergo additional testing based on age, medical history, test results and ethnic background. Talk with your doctor about the tests you may experience during prenatal visits.
What to Expect at Your Prenatal Care Visit
During your first visit, your doctor will ask about any previous pregnancies, operations or diseases. Your doctor will ask about your complete health history to ensure you receive the best care possible during your pregnancy. You’ll also undergo a physical exam, take urine and blood tests and have your vitals checked. You might also receive other tests, such as a cervical exam, mammogram or pap smear.
As your pregnancy develops, you’ll go in for additional visits to check your vitals, your baby’s growth and your baby’s heartbeat and activity. Your doctor will check for potential complications or conditions, such as preeclampsia, anemia or gestational diabetes. The prenatal care timeline for pregnant women looks like this:
- Starting prenatal care between eight and 12 weeks of pregnancy
- Attending prenatal care appointments every four to six weeks during the first and second trimesters
- Checking in with your doctor or midwife every two to three weeks once you reach 28 weeks and until 36 weeks
- Going to your doctor or midwife between 36 and 40 weeks for a pelvic exam and weekly visits
After these appointments, you’ll give birth and switch from prenatal care to neonatal care.
How to Choose the Right OB-GYN
When looking for an OB-GYN and prenatal care options in PA, you want to ensure that they offer the right services to ensure your and your baby’s health throughout your pregnancy. Look for the following prenatal care services from your OB-GYN:
- Pregnancy testing
- Overall health assessments through the duration of your pregnancy
- Delivery assistance
- Postpartum care
- Breastfeeding counseling
- Nutrition education
You should choose an OB-GYN that can monitor your and your baby’s health effectively throughout your pregnancy, testing for abnormalities and providing preventative care. You can ensure you pick the right OB-GYN by looking for an experienced clinic, doctor or midwife in your area.
You can also check reviews once you’ve found a few options, looking for the best reviews from other mothers and expecting families. If you have friends or family who recently gave birth, you can always ask them for referrals if they had a good experience with their OB-GYN.
Want to learn more about the importance of visiting an OB/GYN?
Trust Hamilton Health Center as Your OB-GYN
Pregnancy is an exciting time for many women and their families. However, it can also be stressful without the proper guidance. At Hamilton Health Center, we offer prenatal care services to ensure that you and your baby are taken care of during pregnancy. Our team aims to provide you with high-quality care and comprehensive services in one place, reducing the need to visit multiple offices or clinics during your pregnancy.
We provide regular testing and exams through each trimester of your pregnancy and educational resources to help you prepare. We can help you make decisions about your care in confidence. Learn how we can make a difference in your pregnancy care, and contact us today to get started!
More Resources for Women
Co-Sleeping and Bed-Sharing Safety Guidelines
Bringing your new baby home from the hospital is one of the most incredible feelings any new parent will ever experience. You hold this tiny body in your arms and realize that their safety, well-being and survival depend on you. As a mother, you have never left your child alone as you carried them for the last nine months, so how will you put your baby to sleep in a crib? They have never been away from you.
Co-sleeping — or sleeping in proximity to your baby, often in the same room — and bed-sharing are decisions that more and more families are opting for with new babies and even toddlers. This can be mutually beneficial for both mother and baby but needs to be done according to safety guidelines.
What Are the Advantages of Co-Sleeping and Bed-Sharing?
Being a new parent or even a parent for a second or third time, it is quite easy to forget just how little sleep you get with a new baby at home. Co-sleeping and bed-sharing can help parents get more restful sleep at night. Babies sleeping with the smell and touch of their parents tend to get more sleep, too! Here are a few more advantages of co-sleeping:
- Breastfeeding is easier during the night when the baby is nearby.
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) risks are reduced by up to 50% by sleeping in the same room.
- There is no nighttime separation.
- There are fewer bedtime hassles.
- You can keep your baby close all night and wake up to your smiling baby.
Safety Guide to Co-Sleeping and Bed-Sharing
When considering co-sleeping or bed-sharing, it is important to follow a few safety guidelines to prevent unintentional injury to your baby and other incidents. Co-sleeping or room-sharing is considered safer than bed-sharing, so keep that in mind as you make your decision. There are still co-sleeping safety tips you can follow to ensure you can sleep with peace of mind.
Consider Your Sleep Space
Considering your bed size and mattress is important as you want to ensure that there is enough room for everyone to sleep comfortably. Consider your partner and how you usually sleep, as this will help determine a space big enough for all of you.
If you’ll be sharing a room instead of a bed, which the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends, evaluate your room’s layout. Where will there be space for the crib or bassinet? Will you need to move furniture to ensure a clear path between your bed and your baby’s?
Clear Your Bed
Make sure you remove unnecessary blankets and pillows from your bed that could become a danger while you and your baby are asleep. Remove scatter cushions or any other decorative linens that could cause a safety issue. Ensure your sheets are tight-fitting and your baby cannot become tangled in them. Keep the covers off your baby’s head and ensure your bed is not too soft, such as a waterbed.
Make a Safe Space for Your Baby
Make sure your bed is safe for your baby to sleep on if you choose bed-sharing. Clear any unnecessary blankets, pillows and stuffed animals. Using bedrails can also be beneficial to ensure your baby does not roll off of the bed as they get bigger. If your bed is against a wall or piece of furniture, make sure there is no space between the bed and wall before bedtime.
Again, sharing a space rather than a bed is recommended, and you should check that your child’s crib meets safety requirements. Use a firm mattress that fits well in the crib. Avoid adding any blankets, pillows or stuffed animals into your baby’s crib.
Keep Your Baby Lightly Dressed
Keep your baby lightly dressed and avoid swaddling the baby. Avoid big jackets, fluffy blankets and anything else that could be pulled over your baby’s head in their sleep. Keep them lightly dressed and focus on warming the room as opposed to dressing your baby too warm in a cold room.
Avoid Alcohol or Drugs
It is very important that you are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol when you get into bed with your baby, as a lighter sleep is preferred when bed-sharing to avoid the risk of suffocation. If you have taken sedative medication or are suffering from sleep deprivation, it is also advised against bed-sharing during this time as it will be difficult for you to wake.
Sleep Facing Your Baby
Facing your baby can let you monitor them continuously throughout the night. This will also make breastfeeding throughout the night much easier for mom and baby. Even if your baby is sleeping in a separate crib, facing them throughout the night can give you peace of mind.
Childproof Your Bedroom
While guidelines suggest room-sharing up to age 1, you may choose to share a room longer with your toddler. As your child gets older and is able to get off of the bed and move around, make sure your bedroom is childproofed. Anchor furniture to the walls, and avoid having anything in your bedroom that toddlers can climb on or pull on. You should also protect outlets and keep cables and wires out of sight.
Keep Your Pets off of the Bed
Many children suffer from allergies, and having your fur babies on the bed could become a health risk to the baby. Keeping your pets off of your bed is important as you want to create a clean and dust-free environment for your baby to sleep in.
If your pets won’t sleep in their own beds and continue to sleep in your bed, it is better to find an alternative place for your baby to sleep and consider room-sharing.
Avoid Strong Scents
Strong scents in lotions, fabric softeners and air fresheners can affect your baby’s sensitive senses. This is best to avoid around the house while your baby is small and especially in bed.
Avoid Your Older Children Sleeping Next to a Baby
Anyone that has slept with a toddler or elder child can easily agree that they sleep as if they need to take up the whole bed. Keeping older children out of the bed is beneficial for a number of safety reasons. When an older child is asleep, they are less likely to worry about their younger sibling. Consider room-sharing with your older child in their own toddler bed for when the new baby arrives. You might also move your toddler to their own room if you feel they’re ready.
Put Your Baby in the Best Position
All major medical groups recommend that a baby sleeps on their back, as most cases of SIDS occur when baby is sleeping on their stomach.
Seek New Parent Services at Hamilton Health Center
Co-sleeping and bed-sharing can be an incredible experience for the whole family and includes a whole range of advantages. Practicing safe co-sleeping or bed-sharing practices can make this journey a truly wonderful one. At Hamilton Health Center, we’re dedicated to helping new parents achieve healthy outcomes.
Our Baby Love Services combine substance use treatment with other support and family preservation services to help new parents and prenatal individuals. For more information on our Baby Love Services, contact Hamilton Health Center today.
Charlie Batch — One of Pennsylvania’s First WIC Babies
NFL fans might be familiar with Charlie Batch’s achievement on the field. As a Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, he accomplished a great deal throughout his 15-season NFL career, including winning two Super Bowls. Even after he retired, Charlie Batch has continued to be involved in the sport, serving as a game-day commentator for the Steelers and transition consultant for the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA).
But Charlie Batch is also frequently recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s first Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) babies. When he was growing up, this program helped provide nutrition for his family. Receiving foods ranging from milk to fruits and veggies helped Charlie grow as both a child and athlete.
Today, he continues to share the positive impact this program had on his family — and many other families throughout Pennsylvania — to show his support and raise awareness.
What Is a WIC Baby?
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also referred to as WIC, was established in the early 1970s. The purpose of this program is to serve low-income women, infants and toddlers, and children up to age 5.
Women and children at nutritional risk can receive supplemental nutritional foods as well as nutritional counseling at WIC clinics. Along with food benefits, this program also includes screenings and referrals to social, health and welfare services.
Through WIC, pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women can more easily support and provide their babies with the nutrition they need to grow strong and healthy.
Learn More About WIC
At Hamilton Health Center, we offer WIC services to the greater Harrisburg area at our facility. If you qualify, every participant in your family can receive food benefits. You can also take advantage of:
- Breastfeeding promotion and support.
- Healthy foods.
- Health and social service referrals.
- Nutrition education and tips.
We are here to provide health care and support when no one else will. To learn more or see if you qualify for WIC services, please contact us today.
Train To Become a Medical Assistant with NIMAA
Our New Partnership With NIMAA
Hamilton Health Center is proud to announce its new partnership with the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (#NIMAA). We look forward to training the next generation of Medical Assistants this March! To learn more about the NIMAA program, visit: www.nimaa.edu. or contact Melisa Burnett at mburnett@hamiltonhealthcenter.com
Training To Become a Medical Assistant
Have you or anyone you know thought about training to become a Medical Assistant? Do you like to help others? Is serving your community important to you?
Train to become a Medical Assistant with the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement and gain hands-on and diverse in-clinic experience at Hamilton Health Center. Hamilton Health Center will be starting MA training with the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement March 2021 for under $7000.
How to Apply 
Applications for March classes close January 31, 2021. Apply today at www.nimaa.edu. Please contact Melisa Burnett, Program Manager a Hamilton Health Center at mburnett@hamiltonhealthcenter.com for more information.
Top Sexual Health Tips
Having a fulfilling sex life can improve your overall well-being and even lower the risk of developing certain diseases. Yet, without knowing how to maintain your sexual health, you may not enjoy the pleasure and satisfaction that sex can bring. Read on to discover some sexual health facts and tips that can make sex a more enjoyable activity in your relationship.
1. Speak With Your Partner About Sex
Keep open communication about sex and other aspects of intimacy with your partner. Don’t allow work, family responsibilities and stressful situations to prevent you from discussing your sexual health issues.
It’s important to sort out issues that could hinder your sexual pleasure such as conflicting work schedules and personal sexual preferences. When you speak with your partner in a relaxed and courteous manner, you’ll be able to discover the cause of any sexual problems you have and agree on how to resolve them.
2. Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your sexual life. While drinking a small glass of red wine can help increase your libido, alcohol can affect your ability to make sound decisions. This can also lead to indulgence in casual, unprotected sex.
Drinking a large amount of alcohol can also alter the functioning of your nervous system. Consequently, poor responses from your nerves can reduce sexual pleasure and even lead to erectile dysfunction in men.
3. Eat Foods That Enhance Sexual Performance
Give your sex life a boost by eating more nutrient-dense foods. In addition to improving your mood, eating foods that contain a rich supply of amino acids, minerals, vitamins and healthy fats can increase your sexual desire and improve your performance.
Some of the foods you should have in your diet include:
- Citrus fruits: Oranges, lemons, grapefruit and tangerines
- Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, quinoa
- Whole grains: Wheat, buckwheat and brown rice
- Seafood: Salmon and oysters
- Health protein: Lean meat, fish, chicken
- Leafy greens: Kale, spinach
You need to also consider eating meals with your partner as way of strengthening your emotional bond.
4. Keep Fit With Regular Exercise
Maintaining a good exercise routine is beneficial to your sexual health. Exercising raises your body’s production of endorphins and sex hormones, which improve your mood and boost your sex drive. Working out increases your self-confidence, so you can enjoy more sex. Always remember that your physical and mental fitness is connected to your ability to have a satisfying sexual life.
5. Protect Yourself From Sexually Transmitted Infections
If you aren’t in a stable relationship, always use a condom when you want to have sex. This is still the most effective contraceptive method that also prevents sexually transmitted diseases. So, it’s wise to keep a condom with you if you’re sexually active. If you get into a steady relationship and you want to stop using condoms, consult a physician to prescribe an effective birth control method so you can avoid unwanted pregnancies. We also recommend getting STD tests every 6 months even if you’re in a steady relationship. It’s always better to stay on top of things and have the peace of mind that neither you nor your partner has an STD than to go blind.
6. Get Sexual Health Advice
If you notice that you don’t enjoy sex, talk to your physician about it. Some medical conditions are responsible for sexual dysfunction and low sex drive. You may also be taking medication like antidepressants and contraceptives that can affect your libido. Your doctor will be in the best position to answer all your sexual health questions and advise you on how to enjoy a more satisfying sex life.
Let Us Help You Improve Your Sexual Health
To learn more about how to improve your sexual health, you can get in touch with us and speak with a doctor at Hamilton Health today. We run a federally qualified health center that is family-centered, multicultural and bilingual. Hamilton Health is your home for health, where you can get treatment in situations where other providers may not treat you. We also offer judgmental-free HIV testing in Central PA.
More STD Resources
Dr. Bolanle Limann Named New Chief Medical Officer
Hamilton Health Center is proud to announce that Dr. Bolanle Limann M.D, M.DA, M.P.H has been named the new Chief Medical Officer of Hamilton Health Center.
Dr. Limann will provide leadership for all of our clinical departments and ensure that we are providing consistent top-quality patient-center care across all of our different clinical departments. Her primary responsibility will be to direct our various departments and make certain that all departments are following the regulatory standards and policies and procedures that are the cornerstone of Hamilton Health Center.
Dr. Limann comes to Hamilton Health Center with an impressive background of experience in the medical field. She has over 15 years of experience in patient care and is passionate about both quality improvement and cost-effectiveness.
Dr. Limann has worked in the Harrisburg area for many years and is excited to start this new journey at Hamilton Health Center. She served on our board of directors prior to being named the Chief Medical Officer of Hamilton Health Center so she has a deep understanding of Hamilton Health Center’s values and beliefs.
CEO Jeannine Peterson Featured On PennLive
Our CEO Jeannine Peterson was recently featured in a PennLive article discussing our new satellite center near Newport, PA which is set to open this fall. This new facility will help provide individuals access to medications that can help them overcome addiction to heroin and opioid pain killers. The facility will also set up addicted individuals with caseworkers who will help guide them through the drug treatment system. Check out the Penn Live article to learn more about our Newport facility https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/03/opioid_addiction_help_more_med.html