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Life can be busy, and sometimes scheduling prenatal care visits can fall to the bottom of your to-do list. At My Virtual Physician, we understand the importance of regular prenatal check-ups to ensure a healthy pregnancy for both you and your baby.
That's why we encourage you to prioritize your well-being by scheduling a follow-up for your prenatal care online.
A follow-up appointment for prenatal care is more than just a routine check-up. It's an opportunity to:
Regular prenatal visits are essential for early detection and management of potential complications, which can lead to better outcomes for you and your baby.
At your prenatal care follow-up, you can expect a comprehensive and personalized experience. Here's what typically happens:
Our healthcare providers are dedicated to ensuring you receive the best care possible throughout your pregnancy. By focusing on personalized care and early detection of potential issues, we can help you achieve a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Don't wait until you experience a health issue to see your OB. Take charge of your pregnancy health and schedule your prenatal care follow-up online with My Virtual Physician today!
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Prenatal vitamins are supplements specially formulated for pregnant women to supply the needed vitamins and minerals. These vitamins and minerals are necessary for the health of both mother and baby.
A healthy diet is the best way to get these vitamins and minerals. However, taking prenatal vitamins help cover any nutritional gaps in your diet. Moreso, you may require more than your diet may offer during pregnancy.
Before you take any prenatal vitamin, discuss it with your healthcare provider. You may also contact us at My Virtual Physician.
During pregnancy, there are certain vitamins and minerals you need more than ever. These vitamins and minerals are what to look out for when buying prenatal vitamins.
These vitamins and minerals include:
Folic acid is perhaps the most important ingredient in a prenatal vitamin. Folic acid is a vitamin B that helps prevent neural tube defects (NTDs). Neural tube defects are birth defects of the brain and spine.
Experts recommend that women of childbearing age get 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. This is because neural tube defects develop early in pregnancy, even before many women know they are pregnant.
You can get folic acid naturally from green leafy vegetables, nuts, citrus fruits, and beans.
Your body needs to make extra red blood cells when pregnant. These red blood cells help carry oxygen around your body and to your baby. Iron is an essential mineral that helps your body make more red blood cells.
Also, iron helps prevent anemia, a condition where your blood has a low number of healthy red blood cells. You should get 27 milligrams of iron every day.
Calcium is important for you and your baby. Calcium is vital to the growth and development of bones, teeth, muscles, nerves, and organs in your baby. If you do not have enough calcium, you may suffer bone density loss and increase your risk of osteoporosis later in life.
You should get at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily.
Vitamin D helps promote healthy bones, teeth, eyes, and skin. It also improves your and your baby's immunity. You need about 600IU of vitamin D every day.
Food sources of vitamin D include fortified dairy products, fatty fish (salmon and mackerel), fish liver oils, and egg yolks.
Iodine is important for developing your baby's brain, bones, and nervous system. Also, mothers need iodine for adequate thyroid function.
Iodine deficiency has been linked to miscarriage, preterm delivery, stillbirth, stunted physical growth, and congenital abnormalities.
During pregnancy, you need 220 micrograms of iodine daily. Iodine can be found in dairy products, seafood, and eggs.
B vitamins, including B1, B2, B6, B9 (folic acid), and B12, are key nutrients during pregnancy. These vitamins give you energy, help with nausea (morning sickness), improve your baby's nervous system, help build the placenta, and promote good vision.
Good sources of B vitamins include liver, whole-grain cereal, bananas, chicken, beans, and pork.
Vitamin C promotes iron absorption and fortifies your immune system. It also helps develop your baby's skin, bones, joints, and connective tissue. Vitamin C can be found in fresh fruits and vegetables. You should get at least 85 mg of vitamin C daily.
Vitamin A promotes eye development, good vision, and a healthy immune system in your baby.
Omega-3 fatty acids help promote your baby's brain development, reduce your risk of preterm delivery, and having a baby with low birth weight. Omega-3 fatty acids occur naturally in fatty fish, nuts, flaxseed, kidney beans, spinach, broccoli, and cauliflower.
Choline (about 450mg daily) is necessary for healthy brain growth in your baby. Although your body can make some choline, you get most of it from your diet. Foods rich in choline include eggs, fish, soy products, chicken, beef, peanut, and pork.
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Your virtual physician can help to electronically order prenatal care labs and/or send an order to the nearest radiology facility for you to get an ultrasound.
At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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Hygiene is an integral part of self-care at any given time or period. However, it is of greater importance during pregnancy as little changes can have massive ripple effects during this period. During pregnancy, the woman's body undergoes several hormonal changes, and its effects vary from one woman to the other. Hormonal imbalances result in increased perspiration (sweating), increased vaginal discharge, less lubrication and vaginal dryness, dry skin, and nipple leaks, amongst others.
Infections are best kept at bay during pregnancy. Infections can affect the health of the mother and her baby and may result in complications. Hence, good hygiene is an important part of self-care in pregnancy. Also, it boosts your self-esteem and keeps you refreshed and comfortable in your skin.
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The following are basic tips that can help you maintain good hygiene in pregnancy.
Hormonal changes can affect your dental health. Increased estrogen levels can cause inflammation of your gums, resulting in pain and frequent bleeding. Increased progesterone also puts you at risk of hosting plaque-causing bacteria and developing gingivitis.
Hence, poor oral hygiene can cause dental health issues and increase your risk of certain pregnancy complications. Bacteria that cause gingivitis can make a low-birth-weight baby if it enters your bloodstream and reaches the fetus. See a dentist in case of any mouth condition, especially gum disease.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet, avoid sugary and hard foods, brush and floss daily, and, as prescribed, take fluoride supplements.
To stay safe from infections;
Increased vaginal discharge may stimulate bacterial growth and cause ‘bacterial vaginitis. This can cause complications and get transmitted to the child if left untreated in the mother.
To maintain vaginal hygiene:
These tips help maintain air circulation and keep your vagina optimally dry, preventing infections:
Hormonal changes and weight gain during pregnancy can result in increased sweating and buildup of sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria between skin folds. Hence, experts recommend that you bathe regularly with mild soaps and shampoos. Avoid harsh soaps, dyes, and other chemicals for your skin and hair to prevent an allergic reaction in you and your baby.
Avoid taking a bath or shower with boiling water. Use warm water instead. Also, apply lotions or creams immediately after a bath or shower to soothe and soften your skin.
Wear cotton and loose-fitting clothes to improve and maintain air circulation between your clothes and your skin.
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Your virtual physician can help to electronically order prenatal care labs and/or send an order to the nearest radiology facility for you to get an ultrasound.
At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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For most pregnant women, it is safe to exercise during pregnancy. To a large extent, it has health benefits for you and your baby. However, talk to your doctor about exercising during pregnancy before you do. Certain types of exercise may cause harm to you or your baby.
Healthy pregnant women need at least two and a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly. In other words, you do not need to have 2½ hours of exercise at a single time. Instead, spread it over the week. You may have 30 minutes of exercise on most or all days.
Aerobic activities make you breathe faster and deeper and make your heart beat faster. However, ensure it is moderate-intensity where you are active enough to sweat and have your heart beat faster.
Don't forget to take breaks if you need them. Listen to your body.
Regular physical activity in healthy pregnant women provides the following benefits:
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Not all exercise is good for pregnant women. Some may be too intense and cause more harm than good to both mother and baby.
Examples of exercises that pregnant women can do and benefit from include:
Brisk walking is a simple and great workout for any pregnant woman.
Water is easy on your joints and muscles and relieves pain and tension. As you swim or do water workouts, the water supports your weight and that of your baby.
A stationary bike is preferred to a regular bike because there is a reduced risk of falls and injury.
You can sign up in gyms or community centers that offer prenatal yoga and Pilates classes. If there are no specialized gyms, tell your yoga instructor that you are pregnant to avoid dangerous poses such as lying on your belly or flat on your back (after the first trimester).
Low-impact aerobics do not put a lot of strain on your joints and muscles. You will always have one foot on the ground or equipment. Examples are walking, riding a stationary bike, and using an elliptical machine. Tell your instructor you are pregnant so that you avoid high-impact exercises like running, skipping, and doing jumping jacks.
Working with weights is safe during pregnancy as long as they're not too heavy. Strength training helps you build stronger bones and muscles.
You do not have to belong to a gym to exercise during pregnancy. You can take advantage of your normal daily activities at home. Do an active hobby like gardening, taking the stairs, dancing to music, etc.
Avoid exercise or activities:
Other activities to avoid include diving, water skiing, skydiving or scuba diving, and surfing.
If you are pregnant and have the following conditions, please avoid exercise:
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Your virtual physician can help to electronically order prenatal care labs and/or send an order to the nearest radiology facility for you to get an ultrasound.
At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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Are you on the bigger side? Does your BMI suggest you are overweight or obese? Are you also pregnant and wish to lose weight? Women with obesity have a higher risk of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Their babies also have a greater risk of premature birth, neonatal problems, and birth defects.
As much as you may be encouraged to gain a little weight during pregnancy, it is dangerous for you to gain too much weight. More so, what if you are already overweight? Previously, doctors didn't want to advise weight loss during pregnancy to prevent harm to you and your baby. However, recent studies show that pregnant women with obesity can safely exercise and lose weight without risking their health and that of their babies.
As a rule of thumb, pregnancy is a time to do things in moderation. Hence, any form of exercise or dieting shouldn't be intense or extreme.
So, if you want to lose weight during pregnancy, the following are safety tips to follow:
Consult with your doctor before you embark on any exercise regimen while pregnant. Your doctor will ask some questions, check your health status and help you come up with an exercise regimen that will best suit you. Your doctor will also answer any questions you may have.
Also, your doctor may refer you to a dietician, nutritionist, or trainer that may help you with your weight loss journey.
Whether or not you're pregnant, do not rush into anything new. Instead, start slow. Don't cut down on your calories abruptly. Start an exercise routine slowly and build up over time from 5 to 10 minutes every day to more time over the next few weeks.
You may start with easier exercises such as walking and swimming. These can keep you active for roughly 30 to 45 minutes each day.
As stated earlier, do everything in moderation while pregnant. Intense workouts can be dangerous to you and your baby. Listen to your body and trust your instincts. You should be comfortable when exercising. If you are breathing too heavily, or feeling hurt, take a break.
Avoid activities like horseback riding, skiing, or mountain biking. These sports can throw you off balance and cause harm and injury.
Diet fads are often very calorie-restrictive. You lose out on nutrients that you and your baby need to stay healthy and grow optimally. You need healthy amounts of calories during your pregnancy for a safe pregnancy and childbirth. Your body and baby will thank you for it.
This could be manual or online. Keeping a journal helps you track how many calories, nutrients, and water you are getting every day. It helps you know what to cut down on and what to increase per time.
It is also a great way to create a routine and plan your schedule. This applies to both diet and exercise.
There are certain foods you should limit or avoid altogether, if possible. These include fast food, fried food, soda and energy drinks, sweets, pastries, and microwave dinners.
These foods contain empty calories and avoiding them can be more effective than exercise in helping you lose weight.
Prenatal supplements provide you and your baby with more of the necessary vitamins and minerals like folic acid and iron. They also help prevent health problems in you and your baby like anemia, obesity, and neural tube defects.
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Your virtual physician can help to electronically order prenatal care labs and/or send an order to the nearest radiology facility for you to get an ultrasound.
At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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Gaining a few pounds is expected and normal during pregnancy but how many calories do you need?
Eating for two doesn't necessarily mean eating twice as much. Instead, you need to eat a healthy, balanced diet in the right portion so that your baby gets the nutrients they need to grow and develop optimally.
The average pregnant woman needs an extra 300 calories a day than when she was not pregnant to gain the right amount of weight in pregnancy. However, the extra calories a woman needs during pregnancy vary from woman to woman. Ask your doctor how much weight you should gain.
The amount of weight you should gain depends on your pre-pregnant weight and BMI. If you were of average weight before getting pregnant, you should gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy.
If you were underweight (that is BMI is less than 18), you should gain 28 to 40 pounds. Women who were overweight before pregnancy need only 15 to 25 pounds more weight during pregnancy.
As a rule of thumb, you should gain about 2 to 4 pounds during your first trimester. Afterward, you gain 1 pound per week for the rest of your pregnancy.
Multiple pregnancies require more weight gain. If you are having twins or more babies, your weight affects the babies' weight. Your babies' weights need to be healthy because they are born earlier than singleton babies. You need to gain about 35 to 45 pounds.
If you are pregnant with twins, you need to gain about 35 to 45 pounds. So that's about the normal 2 to 4 pounds during the first 3 months of pregnancy and 1½ pounds every other week of pregnancy.
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Let's have a little weight allocation budget, shall we?
If you are overweight, your doctor may recommend you lose weight under supervision. In most cases, you'll want to wait until after delivery to lose weight.
However, if your doctor asks you to gain weight in pregnancy, here are some ways to gain the right amount of weight:
Usually, you will have to wait till you have the baby before you can lose any extra weight gained.
However, you can slow down your weight gain. Here are some tips to help you:
Do you feel you're gaining weight rapidly? Or do you want to know how much weight you should gain during pregnancy? Are you suddenly losing weight in your second or third trimester? Do you have other food and weight-related questions to ask?
At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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During pregnancy, you need more of certain nutrients. So, it would be best to make smart food choices to ensure you get enough of these nutrients, including protein, iron, folic acid, calcium, and iodine.
Are you trying to eat healthily? The following tips may help you:
Create an eating pattern that includes healthy and nutritious food options. Thes food options include various vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protein, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products.
Cut down on foods and drinks with added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium (salt). Also, avoid processed and refined foods like white bread, cookies, and snack foods.
Make healthy snack choices. You can snack on whole-grain crackers, fruits, and veggies like berries, carrots, apple, celery, avocado, and tomatoes. When you want to eat cheese or yogurt, go for options that are low-fat or fat-free with no added sugar.
Eat more seafood, about 8 to 12 ounces per week. These foods have healthy fats that are beneficial to you and your baby. Healthy choices include catfish, trout, shrimp, oysters, salmon, tilapia, shad, cod, canned light tuna, and herring.
However, avoid certain seafood that contains high amounts of mercury like king mackerel, swordfish, tilefish, marlin, big-eye tuna, orange roughy, and shark.
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The best drink option remains water. However, if you must drink coffee or tea, choose decaf. Also, go for options that are unsweetened and sugar-free. Avoid drinks with added sugars, including soda, energy or sports drinks, and fruit drinks.
You might have heard "eat for two" while pregnant, but that doesn't mean you need to eat twice as much food.
Most women do not usually need extra calories in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. During the second trimester, between the 13th and 26th week, most women need about 340 extra calories per day. This increases to about 450 calories in the third trimester.
Calorie requirements vary from pregnant woman to woman, so ask your doctor or healthcare provider how many calories you need.
Taking prenatal vitamins is essential to your health and your growing baby. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all pregnant women take at least 600mcg of folic acid daily.
Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects in babies. Neural tube defects affect the development of the brain and spine. It may also prevent congenital heart defects, cleft lip, and cleft palate.
Taking iron helps produce more blood and prevents anemia. The extra blood is needed to make oxygen available to your baby. During pregnancy, the body's iron requirement is 1000 mg.
Pregnant women are to take 250mcg of iodine daily. Early in pregnancy, the need for iodine increases because of increased thyroid hormone production in the mother, increased loss of iodine via the kidneys, and transfer of iodine to the fetus.
Do not take any prenatal vitamins you see. Talk with your local physician about a prenatal vitamin that’s right for you.
Avoid certain foods because they contain bacteria that can harm your baby. These include:
Don't drink alcohol. No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. It can affect your baby's growth and development.
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Your virtual physician can help to electronically order prenatal care labs and/or send an order to the nearest radiology facility for you to get an ultrasound.
At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
Book Appointment Now Call For An Appointment
Hearing a baby's heartbeat for the first time is one of the most exciting moments for expecting mothers and their partners. A fetal heartbeat tells the mother the baby is alive. Beyond that, a baby's heartbeat can also tell the healthcare provider a lot about the baby's health.
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A fetal heartbeat can be detected as early as the fifth week of gestation. At that time, the baby's heart tube begins to beat, although you cannot hear it. Only a vaginal ultrasound can pick it up.
However, it can be better picked up between the 6½th to 7th week of gestation. In some cases, you may not hear it till later. Depending on the medical practice and your history, your doctor may schedule your abdominal or vaginal ultrasound to assess your pregnancy around this time.
You may be asked to have an early ultrasound if you:
The ultrasound will:
Timing may vary, depending on your doctor, his medical practice, and other factors. Some doctors may ask for your first ultrasound early in the 7th to 8th week of pregnancy and then ask for another a week or two later.
At other times, your doctor may schedule your ultrasound in the tenth week. You may hear your baby’s heartbeat for the first time. However, the Doppler may find it challenging to pick the heartbeat. Don't panic. It may be that:
Give it a couple of weeks. The Doppler will be able to pick your baby's heartbeat perfectly by the 12th week of gestation. After 8 to 10 weeks, you can hear your baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope. This should be around the twentieth week of pregnancy.
It is almost impossible for the human ear to detect a fetal heartbeat. However, some women claim they hear their baby's heartbeat. This may be possible in the late second and third trimesters.
At 6 to 7 weeks, the normal fetal heart rate is between 90 to 110 beats per minute.
By the ninth to tenth week, your baby's heart rate should beat between 150 to 170 times per minute. However, this should reduce to around 140 beats per minute by week 20.
During labor, your baby's heart can beat 110 to 160 times per minute. But there may be slight variations due to several reasons, some of which are perfectly normal.
Your doctor may warn against using at-home fetal apps and devices. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also warns against using such unless you’re under the supervision of a medical professional.
These apps and devices are mostly substandard and may either not pick up a baby's heartbeat or give you an inaccurate reading, resulting in unnecessary fear and worry. Also, using some of these devices like the at-home Doppler requires training to avoid wrong readings.
Your doctor will monitor your baby’s heartbeat at each prenatal visit. If you are worried about your baby’s heartbeat, talk to your doctor. They will schedule an ultrasound and check your baby's heartbeat. If your baby's heartbeat is too fast, too slow, or irregular, the doctor may assess some others things and order more tests to diagnose the problem.
Rarely, if your baby has a heart condition, your doctor may schedule a fetal echocardiogram to examine your baby’s heart further.
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Your virtual physician can help to electronically order prenatal care labs and/or send an order to the nearest radiology facility for you to get an ultrasound.
At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in-network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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Before you became pregnant, some medications may have been safe for you to take. However, when you become pregnant, you cannot just take any medications including painkillers. This is because some of these medications are not safe for you or your baby during pregnancy. In some cases, the effects may be unknown.
So, it's best you ask your physician or healthcare provider what meds are okay and what meds you may need to find alternatives for. Your local doctor will weigh the risks and benefits to help you know what's safe.
Also, let your pharmacist or other doctors know you are pregnant if they are prescribing any medications for you.
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First of all, if you are using any medications while pregnant, write them out and give your healthcare provider. This includes over-the-counter (OTC) medications, prenatal vitamins, nutrition supplements, herbal medicine, alcohol, and illegal drugs.
Prenatal vitamins are safe and must be taken when pregnant. Take extra precautions before taking other vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements. Ask your doctor before taking any of the aforementioned substances.
Certain prescription drugs may pose more risks than benefits if you take them. On the other hand, some potential risks may be overlooked because not using a certain medication may pose a greater risk to you and/or your baby.
Illegal or street drugs are injurious to your health and even worse during pregnancy. These substances can be passed to your baby through the placenta and umbilical and can affect its life, growth, and development in utero and when delivered. No amount of street drugs or alcohol is proven to be safe when pregnant.
Your baby can be born with congenital problems due to illegal drugs and alcohol. Examples of these drugs include cocaine, heroin, angel dust, marijuana, crack, and LSD.
Other problems include premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects, fetal alcohol disorders, placental abruption, miscarriage, stillbirth, and developmental problems.
The following medications below are proven safe to take during pregnancy. Please note that no drugs can be considered 100% safe to use during pregnancy. Hence, check with your doctor before taking these drugs, especially during the first trimester. There's no harm in being extra sure.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®)
Loratadine (Claritin®)
Steroid nasal spray (Rhinocort®)
Cetirizine (Zyrtec®)
Acetaminophen (Tylenol®)
Saline nasal drops or spray
Warm salt/water gargle
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®)
Mentholated or non-mentholated cough drops
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Vitamin B6
Loperamide ([Imodium®]
Docusate (Colace®)
Psyllium (Fiberall®, Metamucil®)
Methylcellulose fiber (Citrucel®)
Polycarbophil (FiberCon®)
Aluminum hydroxide/magnesium carbonate (Gaviscon®)
Aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (Maalox®)
Famotidine (Pepcid AC®)
Ranitidine (Zantac®)
Calcium carbonate (Titralac®, Tums®)
Calcium carbonate/magnesium carbonate (Mylanta®)
Diphenhydramine (Unisom SleepGels®, Benadryl)
Bacitracin
Neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin (Neosporin®)
Polysporin
Diphenhydramine cream (Benadryl)
Hydrocortisone cream or ointment
Caladryl lotion or cream
Oatmeal bath (Aveeno®)
Phenylephrine/mineral oil/petrolatum (Preparation H®)
Witch hazel (Tucks® pads or ointment)
Miconazole (Monistat®)
N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET®)
The following substances are not considered safe for use in concentrated amounts. They can harm your baby, and cause premature birth, and birth defects.
The following oral supplements should be avoided in pregnancy:
You should avoid the following aromatherapy essential oils if you are pregnant:
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise, including concerns about medications.
We are in-network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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High blood pressure (hypertension) has negative effects on persons living with the condition if left untreated or poorly managed. However, having high blood pressure during pregnancy can pose a higher risk for complications for both mother and baby. Hence, it is and should be taken seriously if diagnosed.
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Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessel. The heart pumps blood into the arteries-blood vessels that carry the blood from the heart to all the parts of the body. A person is said to have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, when the pressure in the arteries is above the normal range.
According to the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA), the ranges of blood pressure and what they indicate are as follows:
Normal: < 120/80 mm Hg
Elevated: 120 to 129/< 80 mm Hg)
Stage 1 hypertension: 130 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg
Stage 2 hypertension: ≥ 140/90 mm Hg
Hypertensive disorders refer to the several different types of high blood pressure during pregnancy. These types vary in severity and impact on the body. The forms of high blood pressure during pregnancy include:
Chronic hypertension
High blood pressure which is present before pregnancy or before 20 weeks gestation.
Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia
Preeclampsia, which develops in someone who has chronic hypertension (high blood pressure before pregnancy).
Gestational hypertension
High blood pressure that first develops and is diagnosed during pregnancy, typically after 20 weeks of gestation. In this type, there are no other signs or symptoms of preeclampsia present.
Preeclampsia
A serious condition only found in the latter half of pregnancy with the following signs and symptoms:
It can progress into eclampsia and cause seizures.
The following risk factors can increase a woman's risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension) during pregnancy:
High blood pressure (hypertension) during pregnancy can affect both mother and child in serious ways.
In the baby, it can lead to poor placental development, affecting the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the baby in the womb. This can result in:
In the mother, it can result in:
Treatment of high blood pressure depends on the severity, cause, and time of onset. Generally, women with hypertensive disorders will need close monitoring. This could include more prenatal visits, ultrasounds and other tests, and intense fetal monitoring.
To prevent complications, women with any type of high blood pressure in pregnancy are expected to:
As a telemedicine platform, My Virtual Physician is available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We also help with electronically sending orders for tests and examinations while you wait for an appointment with a local OB doctor.
We are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare and Blue Cross.
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The practice of obstetrics and gynecology is majorly hands-on. However, you can establish your appointments with an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) via telehealth. There are several purposes a telehealth visit can serve including antenatal care, prescription refills, substance use, breastfeeding, and many more.
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Several services can be provided via a telehealth visit with an OB-GYN specialist or an affiliated general physician.
You may book a telehealth visit with an OB-GYN doctor in any of the following situations:
In some cases, the outcomes of these appointments may be a need for an in-person visit. Usually, you may be asked to come in for an in-person visit if you:
Firstly, you will need to search for and select a telemedicine platform that offers Ob-Gyn services. At other times, you may search for an Ob-Gyn that offers telehealth visits. Either way works. If the Ob-Gyn facility you use provides telehealth services, you may continue with them.
Most insurance providers cover telehealth visits as they are treated as outpatient hospital visits. However, check-in with the facility or platform of choice if your insurance plans can cover your telehealth visits with them.
Once you book your appointment, you can prepare ahead and ensure a productive session. These simple steps may help:
My virtual physician provides a wide range of Ob-Gyn services. We have a team of certified obstetricians and gynecologists available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
We are in-network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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Pregnancy is a beautiful period and process that every mother should enjoy while looking forward to welcoming her babies. However, it does come at a price.
Several women experience different forms of discomfort during pregnancy, leading to anxiety. While some may be fleeting, others may last for longer periods. Some could be experienced early in pregnancy, some later or even closer to delivery, and others may emerge earlier, go away and later return.
In this article, we will be highlighting several discomforts a pregnant woman may experience, causes, and simple relief measures.
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The are several discomforts that pregnant women experience. 25 of them are listed below but are not limited to the following:
Discomforts may be experienced in all the trimesters. Hence, their causes vary depending on the age of the pregnancy. Additionally, some discomforts may lead to other discomforts.
The following are causes of the various pregnancy discomforts mentioned above:
The following measures help prevent and relieve the pregnancy discomforts you may feel.
At My Virtual Physician, we help you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. We are also available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
Additionally, we are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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Pregnancy is marked with several symptoms. However, it is important to know that while certain symptoms are "normal", others are cause for alarm.
Telemedicine in prenatal care helps bridge the gap and save time during emergencies. You can get in touch with a virtual physician before you book an appointment with your local OB doctor. Your questions could get an immediate answer and help prevent your symptoms from worsening and resulting in complications.
In this article, we will be discussing alarming signs you should watch out for during pregnancy. These signs require immediate medical attention either by getting a call across to a doctor or getting to a medical facility as soon as possible.
Light bleeding, also known as vaginal spotting during the first few weeks of pregnancy can be normal. At such times, it may be described as implantation bleeding.
However, bleeding could be a warning sign, especially if it is heavy and accompanied by other symptoms. Bleeding accompanied by severe abdominal or pelvic pain, feeling faint, and shoulder pain could be indicative of ectopic pregnancy.
Additionally, the timing of the bleeding could mean different things. Heavy bleeding with severe cramping in the first or early second trimester is a sign of a miscarriage. However, if the heavy bleeding with cramps occurs in your third trimester, it may be a sign of placental abruption or placenta previa.
Any form of bleeding in pregnancy is an alarming sign. Immediately, call your doctor or go to the emergency room.
Nausea and vomiting, also referred to as morning sickness, is a common sign of pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.
However, severe nausea and vomiting can make you dehydrated which isn't safe for you and your baby. Contact your healthcare provider who will assess you, and may prescribe medication or advise changing your diet.
Headaches, although worrisome, can be normal in pregnancy. They could be due to stress, hormonal changes, fatigue, etc.
However, a severe headache is a warning sign. It may be a sign of high blood pressure or preeclampsia, which is a serious high blood pressure disorder that develops usually after the 20th week of pregnancy. Symptoms include high blood pressure, swelling, and excess protein in your urine. Seek immediate medical attention as it can affect your health, and your baby's health, and is potentially fatal.
Visual disturbances such as light sensitivity, blurred vision, and temporary loss of vision are warning signs. They could be due to many factors including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, which require medical attention and monitoring. Call your healthcare provider if you experience any changes in eyesight.
Sudden, extreme weight gain can be linked to serious conditions such as preeclampsia. Swelling (edema) and puffiness often occur in the face, hands, and feet. This may be normal, however, it should be monitored. It may also be a sign of preeclampsia. Call your doctor when you experience any of these.
Usually, women begin to feel the baby's movements between 18 to 25 weeks of pregnancy. By the third trimester, the baby's movements are more frequent and trackable.
Once you feel your baby's movements are absent or have significantly declined, you may first eat a light snack or drink something cold. Then, lie on your side and try again. However, if this continues, call your health provider.
Contractions early in the third trimester refer to the contractions you feel before the end of the 37th week of pregnancy. Typically, you may have felt light or false labor contractions known as Braxton Hicks contractions. These usually stop when you move or change positions, and drink water.
However, if your contractions persist, become regular, and increase in intensity despite a change in position, it may be a sign of preterm labor. Seek medical attention immediately.
Medically, this is known as "premature rupture of membranes" where you feel or see a trickle, leak, or gush of fluid from your vagina before the end of the 37th week of your pregnancy.
Your water breaking normally is a sign of labor. If it happens before the end of the 37th week of your pregnancy, you may be having preterm labor. If this happens, call your doctor immediately.
At My Virtual Physician, we help you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. We are also available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
Additionally, we are in-network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
Telemedicine is the practice of using digital technology to provide care remotely. To ensure telemedicine in prenatal care is possible, accessible, and effective, there are several pieces of equipment that you may need.
While there are several types of telemedicine including store-and-forward, real-time, and remote monitoring, real-time telemedicine is the most common and used. Real-time telemedicine involves live consultations between physicians and patients via audio and video calls.
In store-and-forward telemedicine, as the name implies, healthcare providers and patients communicate and exchange medical information, usually at different times using HIPAA-compliant platforms.
Remote monitoring is used to examine or monitor patients without an in-person visit using certain equipment that record, transmit, and store patient data.
Each of these forms of telemedicine requires equipment and devices. In this article, we discuss what types of equipment are needed by both or one of the physician or the pregnant woman and her family.
Remote patient monitoring as a form of telemedicine is majorly device-based. At times, a patient may be asked to get a standard home care kit that contains most if not all of the below:
These telemedicine devices are used to monitor, record, and transmit patient health data directly to physicians, nurses, or other healthcare providers. Most of these devices are programmed to automatically record and transmit the data they collect. These data are transmitted via the internet or Bluetooth technology.
This process enables healthcare providers to monitor pregnant clients without a physical appointment, especially women with diabetes, hypertensive disorders, or who are just recovering from an illness. Also, they can address concerns promptly preventing late diagnosis and complications.
Virtual consultations majorly use the real-time and store-and-forward forms of telemedicine. They rely largely on are largely dependent on telecommunication devices and software because they are best suited for video consultations, basic visual exams, scans, counseling, therapy, and follow-up care.
The following are the equipment needed for virtual consultations including:
At My Virtual Physician, our team is committed to ensuring that patients get the best of health care as needed.
We provide virtual care at any point in your pregnancy while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. We are also available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
We are in-network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
The pandemic opened the door to broader use of virtual healthcare. Whether it was fear or a deliberate attempt to reduce the risk of a Covid-19 infection, the shift to telemedicine in the healthcare sector was welcomed by healthcare professionals, patients, and stakeholders. As the search to access and deliver health care became frantic, several measures were put in place by both health care providers and beneficiaries with statistics showing a 38 times increase in telehealth use from the pre-COVID-19 baseline. By April 2020, telemedicine visits were 78 higher than the visits in February 2020.
The pandemic is slowly becoming a part of us and the healthcare system with many operations going back to normal, or rather, their pre-pandemic state. There seems to be a relaxation in the provision and use of telehealth platforms. In some cases, the measures put in place to improve access to telemedicine seem to be nowhere in sight. Hence, the question is, how can we improve access to telemedicine?
Telemedicine has increased access and delivery of several health services over the past 1 to 2 years, including prenatal care. Virtual prenatal care has not only reduced the risk for Covid-19 infection but has increased consumer satisfaction and self-efficiency in patients. It has proven beneficial to the health, growth, and development of both mother and child during pregnancy.
Women are able to book appointments with their local doctors, nurses and midwives, as well as specialists depending on their needs. They have also been able to enjoy care at their convenience and at lower costs. However, not all women enjoy access to telemedicine. Certain provisions that were made during the pandemic have been unavailable since things started returning to normal. While there is still an optimal use of telemedicine, several populations may not enjoy access to it. For example, pregnant women living with disabilities, those in areas with limited access to internet and devices, women with low digital literacy, and patients with limited English proficiency.
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There should be no discrimination against people living with disabilities. Hence, there is a call for equal access to healthcare services, including telemedicine services.
There are several ways to achieve equal access to telehealth services, including:
There are women, especially those in rural areas who lack access to adequate broadband internet and digital devices. This makes telemedicine almost impossible. To improve access:
Poor digital literacy can affect your delivery and the quality of care your patients will receive. You could:
Patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) may find it difficult to understand virtual visits conducted in English. Hence, telemedicine platforms should provide language services to aid access by LEP patients. These include oral interpretation and written translation.
Usually, there are major languages spoken by a group of people including English, Mandarin, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Hence;
At My Virtual Physician, we provide a wholesome prenatal care service that involves the health of your baby as well. As a telehealth platform, a visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor.
More so, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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Prenatal care is focused, not only on the health of the mother but also on that of the growing fetus. Fetal monitoring is an integral part of prenatal care, done in pregnancy and labor. Also known as fetal heart rate monitoring, it is a procedure carried out by trained care providers including Obstetricians, nurses, and midwives, who use instruments and devices to measure, monitor, and interpret the baby's heartbeat.
Fetal monitoring affects the lives of millions of women and infants every year in the United States. It says a lot about the health, growth, and development of your baby. We may say that your baby's heart rate is a method of communication because it is often a response to the conditions in your uterus.
The average fetal heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats per minute. If your baby is under distress, not getting enough oxygen, or is facing any other problem, the heart rate becomes abnormal with the heart beating either too fast or too slow.
Fetal monitoring is particularly helpful for women with high-risk pregnancies, that is women:
This is because these conditions affect the growth and development of the baby. The number of fetal monitoring for these women is usually around 10-15 routine monitoring per woman.
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In medical practice, fetal monitoring is carried out in one of two ways:
This method is also known as auscultation. In this method, a device or monitor is placed on your abdomen. The device amplifies the sound of your baby's heartbeat, listens to it, and records.
A common monitor is the Doppler ultrasound device. It is often used during your prenatal visits to measure your baby's heart rate.
Another external way to check your baby's heartbeat is to use a transducer or an electronic sensor belt. A transducer is kept on your belly and connected to a computer where the rate and pattern of your baby's heartbeat are displayed. The data displayed can then be printed on paper. This device is often used to continuously count your baby's heart rate during labor and birth.
As the name implies, this method of fetal heart monitoring is invasive. It can only be done if the amniotic sac (the fluid-filled bag that surrounds and protects your baby in the uterus) has broken and your cervix has dilated to at least 2cm. Your baby's scalp is reached through your cervix and a thin wire, also known as the electrode, is fastened on it.
The thin wire is connected to a monitor and data about your baby's heart rate as well as your uterine contractions will be displayed and compared. It is used when the external fetal monitoring method is not providing satisfactory results or your baby needs to be watched closely during labor.
The two methods of fetal monitoring require the physical presence of both a healthcare provider and a pregnant woman. However, this may not always be convenient and accessible, especially with the Covid-19 pandemic, physician shortages, and for women living in rural areas.
However, the advent of telemedicine in prenatal care seems to get this taken care of with remote fetal monitoring. With telemedicine, remote solutions for home fHR monitoring and signal processing technique have been developed.
Pregnant women are instructed and trained on how to use these devices and software from the comfort of their homes. Additionally, these devices have sensors, and readings are transmitted to a monitor or cloud platform of a local doctor, nurse, midwife, or obstetrician at the healthcare facility. Certain apps and software on smart devices can remind the pregnant woman when to have a fetal monitoring session, interpret the results, and state what should be done if the results are abnormal.
While the availability and application of remote fetal monitoring devices are relatively low, it is one aspect of telemedicine in prenatal care that is being looked into to solve the challenges of accessibility and availability of prenatal care.
At My Virtual Physician, we provide a wholesome prenatal care service for both you and your baby.
We provide insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross; which shows that we care deeply for our clients.
We are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. To get the best prenatal care, contact us today!
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Diabetes in pregnancy or gestational diabetes is a condition in pregnancy where your blood sugar levels become abnormally high in pregnancy. About 3-10% of pregnant women in the United States get diagnosed with gestational diabetes each year. Diabetes, if not promptly and properly managed, can result in complications for both mother and child.
Diabetes in pregnancy increases the risk for gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and having a cesarean section. In the baby, uncontrolled gestational diabetes can result in macrosomia, preterm birth, hypoglycemia, jaundice, birth asphyxia, and stillbirth. While gestational diabetes goes away after pregnancy, it increases your risk of developing diabetes later in life and your baby's.
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The Covid-19 pandemic led to an increased burden on the healthcare system and scarcity of human and material resources. Health facilities were overworked with caring for patients with emergency and/or critical cases, including Covid-19, pulling all their weight to stop the spread of and deaths caused by the Covid-19 infection.
Consequently, non-emergency health services including prenatal care were almost unavailable and inaccessible. There were social and physical restrictions declared by governments to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Additionally, pregnant women avoided hospitals to reduce the risk of catching the virus.
Prenatal care is an essential preventive health service that impacts local, national, and international populations. Lower rates of maternal mortality and morbidity translate to positive growth and development of any country. In the United States alone, 4 million women access prenatal care each year. That's a huge number.
Telemedicine, a new but not new model of healthcare delivery emerged to connect pregnant women and healthcare providers. Studies have recorded positive outcomes from the use of telemedicine in prenatal care. Despite the lack of direct contact with their caregivers, women with diabetes in pregnancy have been proven to benefit from this approach of healthcare delivery.
It may seem that telemedicine has become a mainstay in the health system despite the loosening of the lockdown regulations. Healthcare facilities, providers, and patients have continued to utilize telemedicine as a cost-effective and convenient means of accessing and delivering care.
Telemedicine is a virtual, online version of the conventional approach to healthcare delivery. In other words, patients can connect with their caregivers using a smart device and web connection via videoconferencing, emails, text messages, and audio calls. Monitoring is also automatic or digital, with the use of devices in the immediate environment of the patient. These devices measure and record several health data.
Diabetes in pregnancy requires increased and consistent clinic visits and monitoring. Women with pregnancy complicated by diabetes get more antenatal appointments with their general physician, obstetrician, and dietitians, among others. Multiple visits translate to increased cost from care, absences from work, transport, and babysitting leading to little to no compliance by patients and resultant negative maternal-fetal outcomes.
Additionally, managing diabetes is time-consuming, requiring time to examine, educate, adjust to new lifestyle modifications of exercise, diet, routine monitoring of blood sugar levels, medications, and insulin injections. Hence, telemedicine comes as a reprieve to several time and cost-related issues in the management of diabetes.
ICT helps providers connect with their patients remotely from home or work. Virtual appointments can meet the needs of more patients and enhances the team approach in the management of diabetes by involving the patients themselves, their local doctors, obstetricians, nurses, and dietitians.
With telemedicine, patients could monitor their blood glucose levels, perform fetal movement counting, and record insulin doses and episodes of hypoglycemia. Furthermore, the quick transmission of patients' health data facilitates early detection and management of conditions associated with gestational diabetes. High-risk cases can be promptly detected, preventing complications in both mother and child, including the need for a cesarean section.
Several studies have proven that the above-stated roles of telemedicine have yielded benefits to both patients and their healthcare providers. In patients, telemedicine effectively reduced blood sugar levels as well as the risk for maternal and fetal/neonatal complications, compared to standard care. Additionally, increased patient participation led to increased positive health outcomes, behavioral outcomes, self-efficacy, patient satisfaction, and quality of life in patients.
Are you an expecting mother diagnosed with diabetes in pregnancy? At My Virtual Physician we bridge the gap while you await an appointment with your OB doctor. We are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
We are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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Healthcare delivery in recent times has become safer and more convenient with the advent of telemedicine. However, the success of telehealth may be shaky because of increased security and privacy risks associated with it.
In this post, we will discuss the possible cybersecurity risks associated with telemedicine and what telemedicine companies, particularly My Virtual Physician, are doing to ensure you and your information are safe.
Despite its numerous benefits, telemedicine has been associated with both security and privacy risks outlined below.
Digital and monitoring devices are the mainstays of telemedicine. While these devices are necessary to monitor the patient's health in real-time and ensure the patient's safety, the information generated, saved, and transmitted is not often secure.
Also, there are certain non-medical data about the patient, their home, and other activities that these devices and sensors pick and transmit that the patient would have rather kept private. However, aside from healthcare providers, this information can be stored in the device by the manufacturers. Hence, increasing the risk of the information being sold to third parties or used for other reasons such as research, target advertising, and medical fraud.
Furthermore, while privacy policies are provided, most patients give consent without reading or fully understanding them. Hence, the weak privacy protections.
The HIPAA privacy rule is established to ensure the privacy of individuals' protected health information (PHI) and sets the limits or conditions through which that information can be used or disclosed without the individual's authorization.
The pandemic in 2020 led to a sharp rise in telemedicine. According to the CDC, "the number of telehealth visits increased by 50%, compared with the same period in 2019, with a 154% increase in telehealth visits during the last week of March 2020, compared with the same period in 2019".
Consequently, telehealth platforms and apps were developed rapidly within short periods, resulting in many being HIPAA non-compliant. This led to an increased risk of patients' data being accessed by, sold to, or used by third parties indiscriminately.
Most healthcare professionals and providers working from home are permitted and use their personal devices (cell phones, tablets, and computers) for work purposes. Although these devices only access healthcare systems and patient records through a VPN, the risk of data breaches remains high.
Protected health information (PHI) can be saved on and retrieved from these devices if stolen or misplaced. Also, health systems could be hacked into due to inconsistencies in security updates, insecure connections, malware, and user errors, among others.
There is an increase in the number of people working remotely.
A lot of organizations now have their employees working from home. This implies the number of people accessing the network remotely will increase, making it difficult to keep track of users and security measures. Overcrowded networks make it easy for fraudulent or unauthorized users to access healthcare systems and steal patients' information.
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Telehealth companies and healthcare facilities are required to help keep patients' data safe and confident. To do so, below are measures that should be considered:
By strong authentication, we mean the telemedicine platform provides the means to authenticate each party before they can access any confidential information.
This may include logging in with unique usernames, strong and complex passwords, biometrics, as well as provisional two or multi-factor authentication.
This is important to ensure privacy and security.
End-to-end encryption means that only the healthcare provider and the patient are parties to the communication. Once it is implemented, unauthorized persons are not able to listen to or gain access to information exchanged between the two parties, including data sent via mail or cloud.
This applies to both healthcare providers and patients. Digital devices should have the most up-to-date operating system, applications, and firmware. They should avoid connecting to public WiFi when sending information.
If personal devices are being used, healthcare professionals and providers should ensure patients' information is not stored on devices and that those devices can be remotely cleaned if the need arises.
At My Virtual Physician, we are concerned with ensuring the security and privacy of our clients. You may read through our privacy policy and terms of use to get familiar with our platform.
As a telehealth platform, a visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor.
More so, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
Book Appointment Now Call For An Appointment
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, healthcare facilities were already met with a shortage of human and material resources to provide care. With four million women seeking prenatal care annually in the United States, the healthcare system without adequate resources is bound to experience huge gaps in the access and delivery of prenatal care.
One of these gaps includes delays in accessing healthcare. In many parts of the country, it can take a woman about 5 to 6 weeks or more to get into an OB doctor's office to start prenatal care. Ultimately, it becomes almost impossible for both women and healthcare providers to have the recommended number of office-based visits, that is 12 to 14 visits for low-risk pregnancies.
These delays in accessing prenatal increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. With the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, worse outcomes have been predicted due to reduced availability and accessibility of healthcare across the country and globally.
Consequently, telemedicine as a complementary model of healthcare delivery is the life-saver. However, while telemedicine may be the way forward to bridge the gaps, can every patient benefit optimally from it?
Online doctors have been shown to play an important role in the delivery of care during this pandemic. However, there are pregnant women who for several reasons will not be able to access, utilize, and invariably benefit from telemedicine. These include women from low-income earning families, those living in rural areas, women with no or poor educational background, and women living with disabilities, amongst others.
Telemedicine requires the use of digital devices, wireless network services, and certain costs to be efficient. The following affect the use and positive outcome of telemedicine:
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Approximately 85% of Americans have access to a smartphone. However, disparities remain among low-income and low-education populations. According to a study, 26% of the more than 600,000 Medicare beneficiaries living in communities lacked access to a computer with high-speed internet or a smartphone with a wireless data plan.
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 21 million Americans lack high-speed internet access, especially those living in rural areas. It doesn’t help that other studies state that the number is way higher, estimating it to be 42 million people. This goes to say that poor network service and wireless signal coverage can worsen health disparities.
While telemedicine may significantly save costs from traveling, lost work hours, babysitting, etc., it does not eliminate certain arising costs. Pregnant women from low-income households may be faced with financial difficulties in buying a smartphone or tablet as well as connection plans.
While some people may lack knowledge and skills on how to operate cellphone, telemedicine apps and software may pose more problems. Several apps from different healthcare facilities implies different instructions for booking and having virtual appointments. Pregnant women with poor technological literacy about ICT may not enjoy digital prenatal care as well as a positive patient and physician experience.
Telemedicine, particularly video-related visits can widen the gap that telemedicine aims to bridge in prenatal care. Healthcare professionals, community stakeholders, and the U.S. government should ensure that interventions are put in place to prevent worse outcomes.
Some clear-cut recommendations include:
At My Virtual Physician, we are concerned with bridging the gaps in healthcare delivery. A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor.
More so, our software is easy to understand and use. We are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
Book Appointment Now Call For An Appointment
The Covid-19 pandemic and technological advancement in healthcare delivery have introduced telemedicine in prenatal care. It might seem that telemedicine is here to stay and in a few years, will become a major approach in delivering health care to pregnant women.
With telemedicine, expecting mothers receive consistent and necessary care via videoconferencing, at-home monitoring, and consultation with remote specialists. These were said to improve health outcomes while allowing for less frequent antenatal visits.
However, certain challenges may affect the use and outcome of telemedicine to provide care to patients. Below are perceived barriers to telemedicine in prenatal care.
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Several factors affect the use and health outcomes of telemedicine. Patients and healthcare providers alike play a significant role in the provision and delivery. However, other non-human factors exist which may affect the successful outcome of virtual visits and at-home monitoring.
The following are perceived barriers to telemedicine in prenatal care:
Poor internet connection and slow speed result in loss of connection, poor audio and video quality, hence affecting the smooth interaction between patients and providers. Due to poor signal, online consultations can experience multiple interruptions leading to frustration, low patient satisfaction, and reduced use of the virtual approach to healthcare delivery.
In some cases, factors such as weather conditions, living in rural areas, and home interior can affect the network service in homes and workplaces, hence reducing the frequency, duration, and efficiency of virtual visits for healthcare delivery.
Lack of technological knowledge and skills is a challenge to the use and success of telemedicine in prenatal care. Unfamiliarity with communication technology is common to both patients and providers.
Healthcare providers who have little to no knowledge on how to use communication technology may not want to take up online consultations.
Likewise, patients may find it difficult to install and navigate the telemedicine software on their digital devices. In other cases, patients lack knowledge and training on how to use certain monitoring devices. Hence, they may find it difficult or impossible to interact and provide adequate information during online consultations.
The lack of certain equipment and instruments poses a challenge to the success of telemedicine in prenatal care. Some patients may not have certain instruments such as a fetoscope, weighing scale, sphygmomanometer, amongst others, resulting in non-availability of data to work with.
Consequently, this can lead to poor monitoring which may affect health outcomes of prenatal care via telemedicine.
While patients may enjoy convenience at home, they may be faced with discussing health concerns at the risk of being heard by family members and friends.
In-person visits provide the privacy of the doctor's office which may not be possible with audio and video calls from the homes of patients. This may affect the use of telemedicine in providing and accessing prenatal care.
In other cases, the patient may feel their conversations are being recorded and hence, lose trust in both the service and the healthcare provider.
Telemedicine switches up the order of the conventional hospital visit. The presence of family members, children, colleagues, and other persons may make engagement difficult. Activities in the background may cause distraction during virtual visits.
On the other hand, certain patients may feel disconnected due to a lack of social presence and physical contact with their healthcare provider. The online interaction may be alien to some patients and affect their ability to bond with their healthcare provider.
Nonverbal communication is as effective as verbal communication and in some cases, more. Virtual visits limit communication with body language and facial expressions. Healthcare providers can read these cues during in-person visits and act accordingly.
While telemedicine might be said to save cost, it does not come cheap. Patients may lack the financial ability to buy smartphones, airtime and data, and instruments and equipment.
Unfortunately, patients may not have insurance, or their insurance companies may not cover telemedicine healthcare services.
Healthcare providers are not left out as they also need airtime and data to call and interact with patients.
Telemedicine is a novel approach to access and delivery of prenatal care. Like the conventional in-person approach of care, it has its pros and cons.
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At My Virtual Physician, our team is committed to ensuring that patients get the best of health care as needed. We provide virtual care at any point in your pregnancy while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. We are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
