When pregnant, it’s natural to focus on everything your baby needs. But there are also things you need to know as a mother during pregnancy that are just as important. Antenatal or prenatal care is about ensuring that you are healthy during the nine months as you carry your little one in your belly. The right antenatal care can help prevent a wide range of issues and even save lives! This blog post will cover some of the most common things you must always discuss with your Obstetrics Doctor. This will let you know what to expect when you sit down with yours.
If you’re pregnant and haven’t yet visited your obstetrician, it’s time to schedule an appointment.
Prenatal care typically begins at the first appointment, when you meet with a nurse who will ask questions about your medical history. Then, they will review previous pregnancies’ lab results, weigh you, and measure your height and blood pressure (to determine if there are any health risks).
You’ll also get advice on what to expect during each trimester—from nausea to cravings.
Apart from the specific laboratory tests, at each visit during pregnancy, doctors may perform additional screening tests such as dual marker, quadruple marker, ultrasound scans, amniocenteses (which test fetal DNA) and biophysical profiles (which assess fetal development).
Your Obstetric doctor may also perform cervical length measurements (to assess cervical dilation) or genetic testing if they feel this is necessary based on risk factors such as age or family history.
Your primary doctor should provide recommendations for specialists such as OB-GYNS. Alternatively, you can try searching online for one located near your home.
In general, it is recommended that you should begin seeing their OBGYN within three months after getting pregnant.
However, depending on your personal health conditions, you may need more frequent visits.
Genetic testing is a tool that helps doctors determine whether or not you’re at a higher risk of having certain genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome. If the doctor determines that you are at risk for these conditions, they may recommend additional testing.
The most common genetic tests include amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Amniocentesis is usually done between 15-16 weeks of gestation and involves removing a small amount of amniotic fluid to detect chromosomal abnormalities in the baby.
CVS can be done as early as nine weeks gestation and involves taking cells from the placenta to test them for chromosomal abnormalities in the baby.
Preeclampsia is a severe condition that can occur during pregnancy. It can cause high blood pressure and swelling, which may lead to problems for you and your baby.
Preeclampsia can be treated. However, it can become dangerous for both of you if it is not detected early enough. Therefore, it’s essential to be aware of your preeclampsia risk so you can discuss this topic with your obstetrician at every visit.
If your baby is born premature, you’ll need to be ready. Ideally, the doctors will have a plan for what happens if your baby is born early.
By having this conversation ahead of time, you can feel confident that your doctor knows what he’s doing and won’t make any rash decisions when things get hectic once labour starts.
When it comes to induced labour, there are a variety of benefits and risks that you need to consider.
Inducing labour can be helpful in certain situations, like when the mother or baby is at risk. For example, if your baby’s growth is improper in the womb. Or, if he/she has been diagnosed with a condition that may result in complications for both mommy and baby during delivery (such as high blood pressure), inducing might be necessary.
An Obstetrician doctor may also induce labour if your water breaks too early or if you have postdate pregnancy—meaning your pregnancy has lasted longer than 42 weeks but no signs of labour have occurred yet.
You must discuss with your doctor whether inducing could help alleviate any potential health issues while giving birth so that both parents get their wish for an easy delivery day!
The date you will give birth to your baby is not necessarily the same as your due date.
Your due date is calculated using a mathematical formula, and it’s based on the first day of your last menstrual period. Still, it doesn’t consider many factors that might affect how long it takes for you to go into labour.
Some of these factors include:
As a result, there can be a significant difference between pregnant women with the same due date—meaning their babies could be born anywhere from two weeks early to one week late! So please don’t worry and talk with your Obstetrics doctor for clarity.
It’s important to discuss the possibility of delivery complications, as these can be severe and life-threatening. Several common complications may occur during labour, but you don’t have to worry about them if you take steps to prevent them.
For example, a common complication is premature birth (discussed above). Sometimes babies are born too small or too soon for their gestational age (the length of time since conception).
If this happens, your obstetrician will recommend specialised care for your newborn baby at a NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). The NICU is staffed with professionals specialising in caring for premature babies and helping them grow stronger.
Your Obstetrics & Paediatrics doctor may also discuss the possibility of other health problems affecting your child after birth—like infections (such as sepsis or pneumonia); low blood sugar; jaundice; hypoglycemia (low blood sugar); breathing difficulties such as apnea; low blood pressure; seizures/convulsions/epilepsy (seizures); brain bleeding/haemorrhage; cerebral palsy; vision problems like cataracts or glaucoma; hearing loss/deafness, etc.
The most commonly used pain relief during labour is an epidural, a painkiller given through a catheter inserted into your back. This can be done while you’re awake or sleeping.
Depending on the medical centre, your doctor may recommend other options.
Epidurals are safe and effective for most women who get them. However, they do have some risks associated with them—for example, you might have trouble feeling your legs after the baby comes out; this is called “peripheral nerve block.”
Epidurals aren’t recommended for pregnant women who’ve had blood clots in their past or current conditions where blood clotting might put them at risk. Therefore, it is wise to talk with your Obstetrician doctor about this beforehand.
A high-risk pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a bad thing. In fact, some doctors say that many women who experience a high-risk pregnancy can go on to have normal deliveries and healthy babies.
Usually, a woman over 35 is considered to be at risk for complications in her pregnancy because her chances of having an adverse event are higher than a younger woman, but again, this doesn’t mean she’ll necessarily have problems.
If you’re over 35 and want to become pregnant after having your last baby or when you’re experiencing difficulty conceiving, your doctor will determine whether or not you fall under any “at-risk” categories.
This is based on factors like your history of prior pregnancies (especially if there was any birth trauma involved), your present health condition, and genetic factors such as whether or not you carry certain gene mutations associated with Down syndrome (trisomy 21).
Prenatal or antenatal care is a vital part of your pregnancy. It can help you prepare for the birth of your baby, and it can also help you have a healthy pregnancy.
Your obstetrician will see you regularly during your antenatal appointments to make sure that everything is progressing as it should. If there are any issues or concerns, these will be discussed at these appointments. This allows everyone to know what to do if something happens unexpectedly.
Your Obstetrics doctor may also refer you to other specialists such as an Anaesthetist (for pain relief during labour), a Paediatrician (for advice on caring for your newborn), Physiotherapists etc., depending on what’s needed by then.
Pregnancy is a magical time for expecting parents. Still, it can be intimidating for some couples. And it’s important to remember that your Obstetrics doctor is there to support you & answer any questions you may have. Amandeep Hospital might be the best option if you are looking for an OB-GYN in your area. Our team of expert Gynaecologists and Obstetricians provides world-class healthcare. We offer a broad spectrum of services, including preconception advice, postnatal care, handling high-risk pregnancies, and more. Make sure you and your baby are opting for the right care. Book an appointment with one of our Obstetricians right away!
May 6, 2024
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