Final Answer:
Common maternal health screenings during prenatal care include blood pressure monitoring, blood tests for assessing blood type and Rh factor, screening for gestational diabetes, and prenatal genetic screenings such as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and the first-trimester screening.
Step-by-step explanation:
During prenatal care, healthcare providers routinely conduct various screenings to monitor the health of both the mother and the developing fetus. Blood pressure monitoring is crucial to detect and manage conditions like gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. Blood tests are performed to determine the mother's blood type, Rh factor, and screen for anemia or infections. Gestational diabetes screening is typically done around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy.
Prenatal genetic screenings, such as NIPT and the first-trimester screening, assess the risk of chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome. These screenings help identify potential risks early in pregnancy, allowing for informed decision-making and appropriate medical management.