A complete physical and consultation are in order. These are health risks for all women. Physicians should recommend certain foods, particularly those rich in folic acid, iron, and calcium, and vitamins. Physicians should take a complete health history and ask about any exposures to infection, including gynecological infections, and existing medical conditions. Physicians should investigate the possibility of domestic violence, unhealthy environmental exposures, or other physical or emotional conditions that could endanger a woman and her pregnancy.
Prenatal care is important at all stages.
For healthy women, it provides reassurance about the pregnancy and permits timely management of problems should they arise. The same preventive measures taken during pre-pregnancy should apply throughout pregnancy. Today, it is intended to benefit both. Historically, physicians focused on protecting the health of the pregnant woman because so many women once died in childbirth. In developing countries, many still do.