Katy, TX area obstetrician explains the importance of prenatal care for a baby’s health

Obstetrician in Katy explains the importance of Prenatal care

Are you pregnant? Congratulations! Having a baby is an exciting and wonderful time in many women’s lives. Not every woman is able to conceive and carry a child, so this experience should be enjoyed to its fullest. At the same time, a pregnant woman should also focus on the health of her baby by obtaining prenatal care every step of the way. Our obstetricians in Katy, TX explain the importance of prenatal care to women who have recently received this happy news and want to give their child a great start!

What is prenatal care?

Drs Jenkins, Roy, Ramirez and Ikwuagwu of Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine in Katy, TX describe prenatal care as services received by the mother and baby throughout pregnancy. Some women choose to seek prenatal care before they conceive a child to ensure the conditions are right. Others will seek early and regular prenatal care from a provider to follow up throughout the pregnancy and monitor the baby’s growth and health.

Why is prenatal care important?

The primary purpose of prenatal care is to ensure a healthy, safe pregnancy. The baby growing inside of a woman needs monitoring to check for early signs of health problems. The doctors can often address health issues of the baby early on and can prevent future issues with proper monitoring and visits to the OBGYN. Our doctors are trained to spot common developmental issues with ultrasounds on routine appointments throughout the pregnancy. Prenatal care is incredibly essential because it allows the mother to rest easy knowing all is well. Babies of mothers who do not seek prenatal care have an increased risk of low birth weight and death. This makes it essential that pregnant women consider care throughout their pregnancy. Overall, prenatal care is important because it:

Ensures a safe and healthy pregnancy
Monitors the baby’s growth and development
Allows for early interventions if issues exist
Ensures proper birth weights
Reduces the chances of prenatal death
Monitors the health of both baby and mother
Provides education on how to care for one’s self throughout pregnancy
Offers an opportunity for pregnant mothers to ask questions about their conditions
Gives doctors a chance to spot problems early enough for effective intervention
Gives babies a healthy start to life!

Call our office

New patients please call:
855-346-8610

Existing patients please call:
281-347-2600

Virtual Consultation

How often should I see my OBGYN throughout my pregnancy?

First and foremost, many women seek care before they are even pregnant. They can ensure they are healthy enough to get pregnant and that the conditions are correct in terms of ovulation to conceive. Women who want to get pregnant can also ask about prenatal vitamins that they can take to assist. After a woman finds out she is pregnant with a positive test, they should visit their doctor once a month until around 28 weeks gestation. At this time, visits to the doctor may become more regular, approximately twice a month through 36 weeks gestation. At this point in time, weekly visits are recommended until birth.

Women who have been diagnosed with certain conditions or complications that make their pregnancy more high risk, including women over the age of 35, may be advised to visit the doctor on a more regular basis to monitor their health and to keep a close eye on the development of the baby. Obstetricians will educate women on when extra visits are required for improved prenatal care in high-risk pregnancies.

What if I cannot get pregnant?

There are many factors that can be related to the inability to conceive. If you and your partner are interested in getting pregnant, an appointment for a full evaluation can be done to check a woman’s ability to conceive. Men can seek assistance through another doctor that can ensure sperm is healthy for conception. Following ovulation can also help, but couples who struggle with conceiving a child may want to see an infertility specialist to learn more about the steps they can take to start or expand their family.

Are you pregnant and ready to take the steps necessary to ensure your baby’s health?

Contact the team at Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine in the community of Katy, TX to learn more about the benefits and importance of prenatal care with our staff. Call the office, located at 23535 Kingsland Boulevard, at 855-346-8610 and get your pregnancy off to a safe and healthy start!

Share this Article

Back to Prenatal Care Page

Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Medicine
Connect with Dr. Jenkins on Linkedin

We offer general care, gynecology, and obstetrics services that span all stages of a woman's life. Dr. Taryll L. Jenkins, MD, received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and his Doctorate of Medicine from Meharry Medical College School of Medicine, TN. He completed his residency training at the University of Texas and Hermann Hospital, TX and is Board-certified from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, with years of research experience.

Having graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Chemistry in 2011, Dr. Stephanie Roy received her Doctor of Medicine Degree in 2015 from the University of Texas Medical Branch. Today, she is a leading Board-certified physician who works hard to provide you and your family with high-quality services. In addition to spending time at the practice, Dr. Roy possesses extensive volunteer experience in the community. She was also a tutor at the Medical Careers Diversity Program in 2012 and, since then, has spent her free time volunteering for the St. Vincent’s Clinic.

Dr. Tiffany Ikwuagwu is passionate about caring for the diverse communities in Katy, TX. Having completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Houston, her medical degree at the Baylor College of Medicine, and her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the McGovern Medical School, she worked as principal investigator on a research project with Dr. Nana Ankumah at UT Houston. A member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Ikwuagwu has served in several leadership roles and has made many contributions to the community.

Yara Ramirez, MD, earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University and her doctorate in medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, where she also completed her residency. She won the Resident Teaching Award from UTMB’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for two consecutive years.
Dr. Ramirez has researched extensively on many obstetrics-related topics. She has been a Junior Fellow Representative for the UTMB Residency Program and a Medical Student Education Committee Member at the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has volunteered for various local and foreign community programs. Her fluency in Spanish and French is an asset to her organization.

Nadia Alexander is a Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center. With seven years of experience in women’s health and a focus on obstetrics and ambulatory gynecology (vaginitis, UTI, and vaginal bleeding), she provides quality, compassionate care to patients in various stages of reproductive life. She is fluent in English and Spanish and is the lead contact for our Telehealth service.