Women’s Health Month: The Power of Prenatal Care
At Culbertson Memorial Hospital, we’re proud to celebrate Women’s Health Month this May by highlighting one of the most essential aspects of women's healthcare: prenatal care.
If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, regular prenatal visits are one of the most important steps you can take to protect you and your baby’s health. Prenatal care goes beyond checkups—it's about giving you the support, guidance, and resources you need every step of the way.
What is Prenatal Care?
Prenatal care is the health care you receive during pregnancy. It includes:
- Regular appointments to track your baby’s growth
- Screenings and tests to detect potential health concerns
- Nutritional and lifestyle guidance
- Emotional support and mental health screenings
The Significance of Prenatal Care
Starting prenatal care early—ideally in the first trimester—can make a big difference in preventing complications and ensuring a healthy pregnancy. During pregnancy, maternal monitoring involves a combination of tests and assessments to ensure the health of both the mother and the developing fetus. Throughout pregnancy, a variety of routine monitoring procedures are performed, including:
Ultrasound Scans: Ultrasound screenings are done throughout pregnancy, including in the first trimester to confirm viability, determine due date, and assess fetal development. Anomaly scans (around 20 weeks) check for structural abnormalities and fetal growth.
Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring: Fetal heart rate is monitored regularly, often using a Doppler ultrasound device or electronic fetal monitors.
Blood Tests: Routine blood tests include complete blood count (CBC), blood type and Rh factor, and tests for infections like rubella, hepatitis, and HIV. Additionally, monitoring hemoglobin and hematocrit levels is crucial when screening for anemia.
Anemia is when you don’t have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. Some are more common during pregnancy, including:
- Iron-deficiency anemia, from a lack of iron.
- Folate-deficiency anemia, from a lack of folic acid.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, from a lack of vitamin B12.
The best way to treat the most common types of anemia is to make sure you’re getting enough iron, B12 and folic acid. Taking a prenatal vitamin every day will help manage risk and help treat anemia if diagnosed.
Another common test is the glucose tolerance test, which checks for gestational diabetes. 10% of pregnant women are affected by this common condition. Screening usually occurs around weeks 24 to 28 of pregnancy. If left untreated, gestational diabetes can put both the mother and fetus at risk for complications.
Pre-existing thyroid conditions, both hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), can impact pregnancy and require careful management. Blood tests allow the doctor to better treat the mother by evaluating and keeping a close eye on spikes in thyroid levels during pregnancy. Untreated thyroid conditions during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and other complications for both mother and fetus.
Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure condition that can occur after the 20th week of pregnancy. Pregnant women with preeclampsia often have high blood pressure (hypertension) and high levels of protein in their urine (proteinuria). Preeclampsia puts stress on the mother’s heart and other organs and can cause serious complications.
Vaccinations and infection screening are additional essential components of prenatal care, helping to protect the health of the pregnant woman and her baby.
Pregnancy involves many aspects of care, and we’re here to walk beside you through every stage of your pregnancy. Our team is committed to creating a warm, welcoming environment where you feel heard, supported, and informed.
Local Prenatal Care
Dr. Deseray Aguirre, DO, at the Elmer Hugh Taylor Clinic in Beardstown specializes in providing compassionate, comprehensive prenatal care tailored to each patient’s unique pregnancy journey. She takes a holistic, individualized approach, treating mothers, newborns, and other family members, offering continuity of care from conception to postpartum and beyond (if desired) in a warm, welcoming environment. Prenatal services provided by Dr. Aguirre include:
- Personalized prenatal visits
- Nutritional and lifestyle counseling
- Routine screenings and schedule ultrasounds at the SIU OBGYN in Jacksonville.
- Management of common pregnancy-related conditions
- Coordination of care with the SIU OBGYN for delivery
This Women’s Health Month, we encourage every woman to take charge of her health. Whether you're newly pregnant, trying to conceive, or just thinking about the future, now is the time to make your health a priority.