A comprehensive prenatal care checklist will certainly help pregnant mothers learn how to identify common pregnancy concerns which when dealt with properly, can help in preventing a stillbirth. A prenatal care checklist is however not meant to help a pregnant mother treat herself and it is also not meant for diagnosing any condition. It is only meant to assist in learning how to identify important areas that need to be observed and treated in a manner that ensures the unborn baby’s wellbeing.


Dealing with Bleeding, Loss of Fluids and Fever

In the event of bleeding, loss of fluids or fever, it is necessary to immediately notify a physician so that the problem can be controlled in its infancy.


Hiccups, Hyperactivity and Lack of Activity

It is important for an expectant mother to treat intrauterine movement of her baby with great care. In case she also notices frequent bouts of hiccups or hyperactivity or even a lack of any activity; these need to be taken very seriously and must be evaluated by a doctor at the earliest. In fact, charting and documenting a baby’s kick count is also an important consideration.


Sleeping and Waking Patterns

Every mother-to-be must also understand her baby’s waking and sleeping patterns and in case these patterns change, it is best to call in a doctor immediately. Mostly, it only takes just 28 weeks for the mother to identify and know her baby’s sleeping and waking patterns.


No Bedtime Movement

In case the baby becomes inactive at or around bedtime, the mother must consider immediately going to Labor and Delivery to be closely monitored. This is because according to research findings, most stillborn infants die during the nighttime, especially because the sleeping mother’s condition causes reduction of blood flow to the baby.


Watch Out for Tightness in the Uterine

Experiencing tightness in the uterine is a very serious matter and the same is the case with experiencing persistent pressure in the back or in the pelvis; if these problems are noticed, the mother needs to immediately enter Labor and Delivery.


Blood Pressure

It is important for the expectant mother to closely monitor her blood pressure which should neither fall below the figure of 100/60 nor rise higher than 140/80. Both high and low blood pressure poses serious risks to the health of mother and baby and should therefore be treated at the earliest.


Abnormal Fetal Symptoms

In case the expectant mother starts experiencing abnormal fetal symptoms such as quivering or strong kicks from the infant; it is important for her to see her doctor and have her condition checked immediately.

There are several other items on every prenatal care checklist; these include being on the lookout for differently colored urine. In addition, it also pays to take frequent contractions in the uterine very seriously; these too must be monitored and treated at the earliest.

In case the mother experiences obvious signs of labor, loses her mucous plug or experiences contractions that are less than three minutes apart; she must enter a hospital at the earliest for a closer monitoring of these conditions.