Pregnancy is a special journey that’s as unique as the individuals involved. Board-certified OB/GYN Donna Richey, MD, and her team manage normal and high-risk pregnancies at her private practice in Torrance, California. For personalized care and support throughout every stage of your pregnancy, call or book an appointment online today.
If you miss one or more menstrual periods, you may want to take a home pregnancy test. You can buy one of these highly accurate tests at your local drugstore and take it in the privacy of your own home.
In case your period is irregular, you may look for one or more of the following early signs of pregnancy:
Most of these symptoms can indicate other conditions besides pregnancy. It’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with Dr. Richey as soon as you suspect you’re pregnant.
Whether you’re already pregnant or planning to become pregnant, Dr. Richey advises you on the best ways to stay healthy throughout the pregnancy journey.
She encourages a clean lifestyle that includes wholesome foods, water, and exercise to enhance the wellbeing of both mother and baby.
Steps you can take to ensure a healthy pregnancy include:
It’s important for all women who are able to get pregnant to take a daily vitamin that contains 400-800 micrograms of folic acid, even if you aren’t actively trying to conceive.
A baby’s brain and spinal cord develop early, usually before you even know you’re pregnant, and folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects.
High-risk pregnancies involve an increased risk of complications that may endanger the life of the mother, baby, or both. Dr. Richey manages normal and high-risk pregnancies at her practice.
Some pregnancies are considered high risk from the beginning. Other times, risk factors can develop along the way. Factors that make a pregnancy high risk include:
Just because your pregnancy is high risk doesn’t mean there will be complications, but Dr. Richey may ask you to come in for more frequent prenatal checkups. She may also recommend additional tests to make sure you and your baby are healthy.
For compassionate, personalized care during pregnancy, call Donna Richey, MD, or book an appointment online today.
