WEST COVINA - Prenatal care is a vital tool in the birth of a healthy baby, but experts say women should seek medical advice even before they become pregnant.
In the nine weeks average time a woman waits to seek prenatal care after her first missed period, the baby's central nervous system, heart, arms, eyes, legs and teeth are already developing, said Dr. Carolina Reyes, executive director for the Los Angeles Best Babies Network.
"Early prenatal care is not enough, and in many cases, it's too late," Reyes said Wednesday at "Preparing for Healthy Births Community Dialogue" symposium, held at Citrus Valley Medical Center - Queen of the Valley Campus.
The symposium was sponsored by First 5 LA, a nonprofit organization that focuses on enhancing the early development of L.A. County children.
A key to giving birth to healthy babies is pre-conception as well as prenatal care, Reyes said.
From 1996 to 2002, five
every 1,000babies born in the San Gabriel Valley died, according to statistics. And nearly seven of 1,000 babies were born with a a low birth weight.
The trick, though, is getting women to the doctor's office early enough.
"The concept of preventative help is not something \ are used to," said Kathy Von Allen, nursing director at Queen of the Valley.
Ellen Silver, who works for the county's Perinatal Advisory Council, agreed.
"Many women think, `My mother didn't go, my grandmother didn't go, why should I go for the care?"' she said.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
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