The Importance of Perinatal Care

Pregnancy is a time of happiness, filled with the excitement of welcoming a new member to your family. It is also a time when special care is necessary to ensure the health and safety of both mother and baby. Regular check-ups, periodic scans, blood tests, and more – the reasons for visiting your hospital are many during this phase. The importance of perinatal care cannot be overstated, as it forms the foundation of a healthy pregnancy and childbirth, especially if you have a high-risk pregnancy. Good perinatal care is the foundation of a healthy pregnancy and childbirth, especially if you have a high-risk pregnancy.

While travel during pregnancy is generally safe, it can become difficult if you experience nausea, vomiting, or other discomforts. In cases of complications or when frequent visits are needed, travelling may be risky. At such times, a perinatal centre close to your home becomes the most reassuring and practical choice.

Healthy Pregnancy and Safe Childbirth are the Goals of Perinatal Care

The perinatal period covers pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. The care includes promoting full-term babies, reducing pre-term births, stillbirths, and maternal complications to ensure the health of the mother and baby. By avoiding pre-term or early births, we can prevent or reduce the risk of neurological and developmental disorders, congenital anomalies, and stillbirths. Chronic diseases of adulthood may also be reduced by ensuring full-term births. When health is promoted at birth, long-term consequences that affect quality of life and that require special medical, social, and educational interventions are reduced.

How Does a Perinatal Centre Protect You and Your Unborn Baby?

Perinatal care is provided throughout the perinatal period and uses technology to screen both mother and baby for abnormalities, disorders, and diseases. Advanced treatments and procedures are available to address any problems detected. A multidisciplinary approach ensures 360° care for both mother and baby, while baby-friendly practices, including breastfeeding, kangaroo care, and skin-to-skin contact, are strongly encouraged.

Early and regular perinatal care is vital for you and your baby. This helps doctors detect any issues early, allowing for timely intervention. With early treatment, many conditions can be effectively managed or resolved. Studies have shown that women who receive early and consistent perinatal care deliver healthier babies than those who do not. Low birth weight and higher neonatal mortality are complications that can often be avoided with good perinatal care. Even premature babies born as early as 26 weeks have a better chance of survival and normal development with specialized care.

High-risk pregnancies, such as those involving gestational diabetes or chronic conditions like hypertension, heart disease, or pre-existing diabetes, require expert monitoring and management. Perinatal care provides the special attention needed in these situations, including nutritional and respiratory support for pre-term babies.

Perinatal care ensures that both you and your baby receive comprehensive support for a healthy beginning and a better quality of life into adulthood.

Highlights of Good Perinatal Care

Perinatal care is the foundation of healthy adulthood. With an early start, good perinatal care will ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

• Woman-centric care, where the woman is the primary focus of attention
• A sensitive approach that addresses the psychological needs of the woman and her family
• Multidisciplinary team approach
• Technology-driven service for early detection and treatment of complications
• Promoting screening and testing at crucial stages for early detection of anomalies
• Specialised care for high-risk pregnancies
• Encouraging skin-to-skin contact at delivery
• Promoting kangaroo care after delivery, especially for preterm and sick babies
• Baby Friendly Hospital practice that encourages and supports breastfeeding
• Better infection control practices
• Resuscitation-trained staff capable of handling emergencies
• Specialized care for low-birth-weight babies that addresses social, psychological, educational, and medical concerns
• Involving fathers during labour, delivery, and postpartum care.
• Promoting awareness through education and information.

Why is Perinatal Care Near You Beneficial?

When travel is not advised or comfortable, finding a good perinatal care provider near you is a major advantage. If you are in the high-risk category, you will have to visit your hospital more frequently than the other women with normal pregnancies. If you have a history of miscarriages, then you will be advised to take caution and rest to protect your pregnancy. You will be asked to avoid travel.

When you have your perinatal care provider near you, it gives you a tremendous sense of security and decreases a great deal of tension and worry. This, in turn, will improve your pregnancy health and reduce the risk of complications. Even women with normal pregnancies have their share of discomforts and pains, and may dread travel on congested roads. A perinatal care provider near you will be comforting.

Your pregnancy should be the happiest time of your life. Just ensure it stays that way by finding a good perinatal care provider near you.