Until that point, I treated prenatal care as just going to the doctor for a checkup when I needed one. Now that she knows just how important prenatal care is, she has become an advocate and urges her friends to see their doctor as soon as they find out they are pregnant. A Development Deal Albert Phillips, M.D., who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, agrees with Buckwalter. He suggests that a woman make an appointment as soon as she discovers she's pregnant so that she can schedule her prenatal checkups, usually on a monthly basis, and begin to change lifestyle habits that could bring harm to the fetus. Because everything a woman takes into her body, whether through her environment or diet, affects the developing baby, pregnant women should take certain precautions.
Alcohol consumption is linked to birth defects.
The negative effects of tobacco on an unborn fetus are well-documented. Limit your caffeine intake. Caffeine has been shown to increase the chance of miscarriage. Wear gloves when using cleaning products. Be cautious about how many times you have your nails done-repeated exposure to acetone vapors can be harmful.