A prenatal nurse, also known as a midwife, is a nurse who specializes in the care of pregnant women both during pregnancy and during childbirth. A medical professional in this field might work in a hospital, a clinic, a private doctor’s office, or run her own practice. Help with family planning, fetal monitoring during pregnancy, and care for the pregnant woman from conception to birth are some of the most common responsibilities. In fact, many midwives continue to see patients after the baby is born to provide checkups and advice on birth control options.
Prenatal nurses are available at many gynecological practices to assist women who are interested in becoming pregnant. A prenatal nurse can provide testing to ensure that the woman is generally healthy and capable of bearing children, as well as advice on when to engage in sexual activity to maximize the chances of conception. Women can also get Pap smears, breast exams, and pregnancy tests from a typical prenatal nurse. While many gynecologists and even general practitioners may be able to perform these exams, the benefit of using a prenatal nurse is that the same nurse can often be used throughout the pregnancy, ensuring continuity of care.
For the first two trimesters after becoming pregnant, a woman is expected to see a doctor or prenatal nurse at least once a month. During this time, a typical midwife can use a fetal Doppler to listen to the unborn baby’s heartbeat, measure the uterus’s growth, and schedule ultrasounds with a radiologist. Some prenatal nurses are even capable of performing ultrasounds on their own to ensure that the baby is developing normally. A prenatal nurse may also provide genetic defect screenings, urine tests to check for preeclampsia, and laboratory referrals for tests to screen for issues such as gestational diabetes.
A midwife can usually treat or refer a patient to another specialist if any medical problems are discovered. If gestational diabetes is diagnosed, a midwife may recommend a change in diet as well as a referral to a nutritionist for help adhering to the new diet’s guidelines. A prenatal nurse can refer a woman to a high-risk practice if certain medical issues are discovered that indicate a high-risk pregnancy. Of course, this type of nurse is usually involved in the labor and delivery of the child, either as a spectator or as the actual deliverer. After the baby is born, the mother should visit the prenatal specialist for a postpartum appointment to ensure that she has healed properly and, if desired, to obtain birth control.