Preventive health examinations part I.

The family physician may conduct preventive screening of children yet unborn, beginning with assessing the rubella-immunity status of 12-year-old females and continuing through the preconception period, the prenatal period, and the process of birth. Knowledge of both parents and their family history allows family physicians to deal effectively with the very sensitive issues of risks of congenital disorders and the effects of teratogenic drugs during pregnancy. Prenatal monitoring for various disorders and risks and assessing the growth curve of pregnancy will help to improve fetal outcomes. Proper use of suctioning, oxygen, and application of the Apgar score to monitor and detect evidence of asphyxia at birth can result in healthier babies.