[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Pregnancy and motherhood are joyful phases in a woman’s life but along with joys it does come armed with some worries and anxieties as well. Blame it on hormones, or the obvious changes that the body goes through to prepare for the baby’s arrival. You can come across myriad opinions, suggestions, myths, quick-fixes and so on. If there is something that can definitely put your mind at ease during this time, it is the prenatal checks and doctor visits from the first trimester to the post-partum stage.
Prenatal doctor visits have numerous benefits and these should be adhered to as recommended by the doctor to ensure the optimum health of both the mother and the baby. The number of prenatal appointments required will depend on medical history or if there are any complications or conditions like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of preterm labor as this would call for more frequent checkups. If previous pregnancy had issues, then the woman may require more prenatal visits than average.
The ideal number of prenatal visits is once every four weeks during the first and second trimester and as the pregnancy progresses once every two weeks until 36 weeks, and after that every week until the baby is born. Most pregnant women should have eight and fourteen prenatal visits. There have been studies that suggest without adequate prenatal care the baby is three times more likely to have a low birth weight.
Prenatal visits are when the doctor checks vitals and measurements including the baby’s size, position, and heartbeat. It is a time when the pregnant woman can get all her questions answered by the doctor and get the support she needs. From the plethora of opinions floating around in the family or friends’ network, it is better to get valid answers from those that matter. The doctor can discuss about the recent or upcoming changes in the mother’s body or baby and also offer tips to help her stay healthy and happy until delivery day.
During the doctor’s visit there are some steps that can happen routinely like check the blood pressure and the weight. The weight can say if the mother and the baby’s growth and development is on track. They can also check the size of the uterus, either vaginally or via an ultrasound. During the second and third trimesters the abdomen will be measured and also feel for the baby’s size and position. A urine sample will be tested for protein which can be a sign of preeclampsia or sugar that can be a sign of gestational diabetes.
The doctor can also check for any swelling in the hands, feet or face as this could mean edema due to high blood pressure during pregnancy. The baby’s heartbeat will be monitored. At 12 to 14 weeks into the pregnancy a Doppler monitor can bounce sound waves off the baby’s tiny ticker. The prenatal visit is also a time when the doctor can recommend tests like ultrasounds, amniocentesis that can look for chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections and screening for genetic issues.
For enquiries and online appointments, send a message to www.DivakarsHospital.com/contact
You can seek 2nd opinion with Dr Hema Divakar and other specialist doctors through the Divakar’s Hospital app which can be downloaded from Google Play Store or ios
You can watch videos by Dr Hema Divakar on topics related to women’s healthcare by visiting the ‘Health for Her’ youtube channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaNrDQK_E7XWAi7dFP71ryA/videos
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