Pregnancy Care
PREGNANCY CARE / ANTENATAL CARE
Pregnancy care or Antenatal Care is a systematic care given during the pregnancy to monitor the well-being of the mother and the baby growth, It involves specific blood tests at suitable periods of pregnancy, ultrasounds, physical checks, dietary advice, advice on exercise, travel, work, prevention and early detection of any problem. Hence It is crucial to take care of the mother and the baby at this time and requires expert medical supervision.
Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters
- First trimester – till 14 weeks
- Second trimester – 14 to 28 weeks
- Third trimester – 28 weeks till delivery.
FIRST TRIMESTER
This is a period of organ development of the baby and hence is a very important period of pregnancy. At the first visit, the mother is fully investigated the basic investigations include:
- Blood group
- Haemogram
- Blood sugar
- Viral markers
- Serum TSH
- Haemoglobin electrophoresis – to rule out thalassemia
- Rubella
- Urine routine
- Basic ultrasound
SECOND TRIMESTER
This is the best period of pregnancy. All the first trimester symptoms vanish and are replaced by a feeling of well being. The appetite increases and you need a proper diet in pregnancy. The key is to have a balanced rainbow diet in pregnancy. It should contain different food stuffs and be rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. In order to avoid constipation in pregnancy, there should be a lot of fibre in your diet and you should drink plenty of water. Around 15 to 16 weeks a quadruple marker is done and around 18 weeks a detailed ultrasound is done to rule out any congenital anamolies in the baby.
THIRD TRIMESTER
This is the last trimester of pregnancy. Regular ultrasounds may be required in this period. Usually, one scan at 28 weeks , another at 32 weeks and one just before delivery are required. Some regular blood tests may also be required. This trimester can be both physically and emotionally challenging period.