Having a positive pregnancy test can be very disconcerting as it leads to a number of issues that the woman must face. These include health issues that can affect both the woman and her unborn child, as well as financial and lifestyle considerations that must also be addressed. Pregnancy counseling aims to help women deal with some of these questions and concerns.
Pregnancy Confirmation
One of the earliest steps in pregnancy counseling is confirming that the patient is actually pregnant. Although pregnancy tests can be purchased for at-home use, there is always a risk that they will give a false positive result. Thus a physician is needed to definitively diagnose a pregnancy, OptionLine.org explains. Consequently, pregnancy counseling usually begins with tests to confirm the pregnancy, as additional counseling is not needed for women who are not pregnant.
Ultrasound
Limited ultrasound is also recommended as a part of pregnancy counseling. Because ultrasound can determine if the pregnancy is viable, it is often recommended before other health and lifestyle issues are discussed, the AAA Center for Pregnancy Counseling states. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves transmitted into the uterus through the mother's skin; these sound waves then are reflected back, allowing technicians to visualize the interior of the uterus. Ultrasounds can determine the development stage of a fetus as well as well as diagnose any anomalies, such as an ectopic pregnancy, which can lead to a nonviable pregnancy and serious health risks for the woman.
Options
Women who have a viable pregnancy may wish to discuss the options that they have for the fetus. There are three main options that women have. They can carry the baby to term and keep it; women considering this need to be fully informed about the challenges and changes in their life that this will require, the Mayo Clinic explains. The patient may also give the baby up for adoption. In this case, the counselor may provide information on the different forms of adoption available. Finally, the mother may choose to have the pregnancy terminated.
Prenatal Care
Pregnancy counseling can also provide referrals to medical centers that can assist the mother with prenatal care. Prenatal care, which includes periodic monitoring of the health of both the mother and the baby, helps ensure that both the mother and the fetus will come out of the pregnancy with no serious medical problems. Prenatal care can also offer advice on nutrition, physical activity and other aspects of pregnancy.
Disease Testing
Pregnancy counseling may also involve testing both the fetus and the mother for certain health conditions. Women may have diseases, such as sexually transmitted diseases or other problems that can pose a risk to the baby, both during gestation and delivery. Genetic testing may also be performed to determine if the baby is at risk of having any conditions that could lead to serious health problems or birth defects.
