What is the purpose of prenatal care?

The primary purpose of prenatal care is to establish baseline data for pregnant patients, which serves several critical functions throughout the pregnancy. By gathering comprehensive health information at the outset, healthcare providers can monitor both maternal and fetal well-being over time. This includes assessing pre-existing health conditions, tracking vital signs, determining weight gain, and evaluating lifestyle factors that could affect the pregnancy.

Having this baseline data enables clinicians to identify any changes during the pregnancy that may require intervention. For instance, it helps in the early detection of complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or fetal growth restrictions. Additionally, establishing this baseline allows for appropriate comparisons as the pregnancy progresses, which is essential for ensuring both the health of the mother and the fetus.

While scheduling laboratory tests is an important component of prenatal care, it is part of the broader goal of monitoring the health of both the mother and the fetus and not the primary reason for prenatal visits. The purpose of prenatal care is not entertainment, and while recommendations regarding physical activity may occur, the primary aim is not to restrict it but rather to encourage safe levels of activity based on each individual's health status and pregnancy progression.