Pregnancy Care Specialist
Fremont OBGYN
Padmaja Sharma, MD
OB/GYN & Medical Spa located in Fremont, CA
Whether you planned your pregnancy or your bundle of joy is a surprise, pregnancy care is vital for both you and your baby. In fact, babies of mothers who didn’t get medical care during pregnancy have low birth weights three times more often than those who had received care. If you need pregnancy care, call or make an appointment online today with Dr. Padmaja Sharma at Fremont OB/GYN in Fremont, California.
Pregnancy Care Q & A
What is pregnancy care?
Also called prenatal care, pregnancy care is the health care you receive while pregnant. The goal is keeping you and your baby healthy. It includes both checkups and prenatal testing.
What are the benefits of pregnancy care?
When you see Dr. Sharma for pregnancy care, it enables her to spot health problems early. But besides early diagnosis, pregnancy care offers others advantages, as well. These include:
- Education: Dr. Sharma provides information about the dos and don’ts of pregnancy like foods to avoid, habits to break, and vitamins to take.
- Managing other health issues: Whether it’s allergies, asthma, heart problems, or depression, it’s not uncommon to receive additional diagnoses while pregnant. Dr. Sharma helps monitor pre-existing conditions while keeping your unborn baby from harm and congenital disabilities.
What happens at a pregnancy care appointment?
It’s best to begin pregnancy care before conception; once you know you’re pregnant, scheduling an appointment with Dr. Sharma is essential. During your first prenatal visit, she does a full exam, which includes:
- Reviewing your medical history
- A pelvic exam and Pap test
- Blood and urine samples for lab work
- Checking your height, weight, and blood pressure
- Determining your due date
- Answering your questions
Unless there’s cause for concern, later prenatal visits include:
- Weight and blood pressure check
- Baby growth check
- Listening to your baby's heart rate
- Additional routine blood work and diagnostic tests
Some of the additional tests include:
- Confirming your blood type
- Genetic testing
- Screening for gestational diabetes, Down syndrome, and HIV
- Ultrasound examinations to determine your baby’s health, anatomy, and due date
Pregnancy care starts with monthly visits. As your due date approaches, your appointments increase to bi-monthly and then weekly visits until you give birth.
Whether you’re trying to get pregnant or already are, call or make a pregnancy care appointment online today with Dr. Sharma at Fremont OB/GYN.