A normal pregnancy lasts nine months. Each three-month stretch is called a trimester, and the fetus grows and develops through all three.
Why checkups and prenatal tests matter
Regular medical checkups and prenatal tests are very important. They can:
- keep you and your baby healthy;
- find problems with your baby, if there are any. Sometimes a problem can be treated before birth. Even when it cannot, knowing early gives you time to learn about your baby's condition and prepare for challenges after the birth;
- prevent problems during delivery. For example, if your baby is breech — bottom or feet first instead of head first — you may need a Cesarean section to avoid complications.
What you can do
Besides getting medical care, you can help keep your baby as healthy as possible:
- don't drink alcohol or smoke;
- try to eat a healthy diet;
- take care of any health problems you have during pregnancy.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Fetal Health and Development." https://medlineplus.gov/fetalhealthanddevelopment.html
- Rewritten in hubnx's own words.
许可协议： CC0 1.0（公有领域） · 改编自 medlineplus.gov
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