An obstetrician is a doctor of broad specialization, who studies all the processes occurring in the female body. The main job is the management of pregnancy and childbirth. Also, the tasks are the prevention of miscarriages, complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and the preservation of the reproductive health of women.
If there is an abnormal position of the fetus, pathology of the pelvic organs, contraindications for natural childbirth, a shift in the timing of childbirth, the obstetrician-gynecologist organizes the hospitalization and proceeds further that is appropriate for their patients.
So, when to see an obstetrician? Let’s find out!
What is the Best Time to See an Obstetrician?
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Establishing the Gestational Age
Establishing the gestational age is necessary to build tactics for its further management. This means scheduling return visits to the obstetrician, passing a minimum set of examinations and necessary tests. Determination of gestational age is carried out in two ways.
The first method is purely arithmetic and requires knowing only the date of the last menstruation. Also, using this method, you can roughly determine the date of birth. They determine the duration of pregnancy by the size of the fetus and the degree of its development.
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Correction of the Diet of a Pregnant Woman
It’s no secret that hormonal changes occur in the body of a pregnant woman, affecting metabolism. In this case, the obstetrician must adjust the diet of the pregnant woman so that she receives all the necessary vitamins and nutrients.
There is a rule that says that a pregnant woman should eat exactly the same foods. And in the same amount as her entire previous life. Although the body is an extremely cleverly arranged mechanism, it must be limited. Otherwise, the risk of pregnancy pathology increases.
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Repeated Consultations During Pregnancy
Pregnancy management by an obstetrician implies consultation of the patient during pregnancy at least three times before childbirth. If the pregnancy is complicated, the number and frequency of consultations increase. If necessary, a pregnant woman can be hospitalized.
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Determine the Chronic Diseases and Complications Associated With Pregnancy
The body of a pregnant woman becomes much more aggressive concerning harmful environmental factors. In particular, the work of the immune system is enhanced because it must protect the growing fetus from infections. It should also be borne in mind that the increased activity of all body systems requires more resources that the body can’t physically assimilate during pregnancy.
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Resolve Issues Related Genital Infections
Regarding chronic diseases and sexually transmitted infections, you can take recommendations from obstetricians. They provide reliable knowledge and treatment over it. However, a woman can approach pregnancy only after the cure or maximum healing of chronic diseases, so that they don’t have to deal with them during pregnancy with greater effort and less efficiency.
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Delivery
The most important task of an obstetrician is delivery. Ideally, before entering the maternity ward, the patient should be fully examined so that the doctor knows where to expect trouble and take measures to prevent this trouble.
In particular, they should have the latest conclusion of the ultrasound examination of the fetus, which indicates whether there is an entanglement with the umbilical cord, what is its total length, the place of attachment of the placenta, and many other important aspects. Based on the available information, the doctor chooses the method of delivery.
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Postpartum Follow-Up
After the successful completion of labor, both the obstetrician and the patient can breathe a sigh of relief. The doctor himself and the nursing staff monitor the dynamics of the condition of the mother and the newborn and much other wisdom of motherhood. If the condition of the mother or child does not stabilize or worsen, the obstetrician has the right to urgently call on the appropriate specialists.
Wrapping Up!
During the visits, the doctor conducts the necessary diagnostics, including tests for genetic diseases and ultrasound, corrects the timing of labor, and monitors the viability of the fetus. All these tasks are possible under the examination of the high-specialist obstetrician.
Hence, if you’re experiencing any problem regarding pregnancy or genital infections, you can immediately book your appointment with a well-reputable obstetrician. For example, the Melbourne obstetricians are the specialists in discovering and providing reliable solutions to any concern.
