If you're pregnant, your doctor may recommend prenatal care so that your baby will develop properly inside the womb and be as healthy as possible upon delivery. Prenatal care can also help protect your own health and prevent certain medical problems that are known to afflict those who are pregnant. Here are a few specific prenatal care services that your doctor may suggest.

Ultrasound Monitoring

With ultrasound imaging, your developing baby can be monitored to make sure that each stage of the pregnancy is progressing the way that it should. The ultrasound technician can check the baby's vital signs and structural development, as well as look for any risk factors that could jeopardize your baby's health. If problems with the baby are discovered during an ultrasound, steps can possibly be taken to avoid a miscarriage or other complications. An ultrasound can even inform you of the sex of your baby if you want to know beforehand.

An Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) Test

This blood test is performed to look for chromosomal abnormalities in a baby that's inside the womb. Any abnormalities in the chromosomes could mean that your baby will be born with a condition like Down syndrome or another birth defect. The information that you obtain from one of these tests can help you prepare better to provide any special accommodations that your child might need in life if chromosomal abnormalities are detected. AFP testing is normally conducted in the second trimester of pregnancy, but you can also get this test done before you become pregnant to learn if you're likely a carrier of any genes that could cause chromosomal abnormalities in your offspring.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

Doctors can also look for chromosomal or other genetic defects with this test. In addition to Down syndrome, this test is often effective in diagnosing cystic fibrosis in a developing baby. A sample of tissue from the placenta is taken and analyzed. A CVS test is usually performed between the 9th and 12th week of pregnancy. The test can be performed by either inserting a narrow tube through the cervix or sticking a needle into the uterus to draw the tissue sample. 

Nutritional Counseling

Nutritional counseling by a medical professional can help you make sure that you're eating the right foods and getting enough calories so that your body can continue to meet the demands of pregnancy. The vitamins, calcium, and irons that are found in foods like dark green vegetables and low-mercury fish are especially important during pregnancy, and you can learn better ways to include more of these foods in your eating plan. You can also get help with planning meals that contain fewer processed foods and other foods that shouldn't be eaten by expectant mothers. Your daily caloric intake for each trimester of your pregnancy can be monitored as well so that you can continue to consume enough calories.

You can improve your chances of a healthy delivery with prenatal care. Your doctor can provide more detailed information about the prenatal care services that are available and help you choose the options that will likely be the most beneficial.