During prenatal care, a midwife or health worker will ask about past pregnancies and births, including any problems, such as a lot of bleeding or babies that died. This information can help you both prepare for similar problems in this pregnancy.
A midwife may also be able to:
make sure a woman is eating well enough and suggest ways for her to eat better food, if necessary.
give iron and folic acid tablets, which help prevent anemia and birth defects.
examine the mother, to make sure she is healthy and that the baby is growing well.
give vaccinations to prevent tetanus, a disease that can kill both mothers and babies.
give medicine to prevent malaria if it is common in the area.
give tests for HIV and syphilis, along with other sexually transmitted infections.
give medicines to prevent a woman's HIV from spreading to her baby.