A healthy pregnancy is what every couple wants! In addition to taking care of one’s own health, getting the right medical care and treatment throughout pregnancy is very important. Not convinced? Read on to know why regular check-ups are necessary during pregnancy.
Prenatal check-ups or prenatal care, is what you get during pregnancy. It is spread over the 35 – 40 weeks of pregnancy.
Regular check-ups from the start can increase the chances of a healthy and smooth pregnancy. During these check-ups, the gynaecologist will check your weight, blood pressure, and various other aspects of your health. They will also clarify all your doubts and concerns.
A pregnant woman can go to the following professionals for her regular check-ups:
● OB/GYN – An obstetrician/gynaecologist is the most common medical professional pregnant women go to. These doctors are educated and trained in various aspects of female reproductive system and pregnancy as a whole. They can take care of the pregnant women, the baby inside as well as deliver the baby safely.
● Family Doctor – Most families have a family doctor they go to for all ailments unless a specialist is required. Your family doctor can do regular check-ups, and take care of you during and after the pregnancy. When there is a need, they might refer you to a gynaecologist or other specialists.
● Midwife – Midwives or doulas are professionally educated and trained in caring for pregnant women. They can take care of the
expecting mother, follow the baby’s development as well as deliver the baby in a way the family sees fit.
● MFM – A maternal Fetal Medicine specialist is trained to handle high-risk pregnancies. Doctors can recommend meeting an MFM in case of certain health complications during pregnancy.
The frequency of check-ups, and the type of tests or scans can vary from doctor to doctor and from pregnancy to pregnancy. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to prenatal check-ups. The doctors will decide depending on your unique pregnancy situation.
The list of prenatal check-ups one can expect are:
● Between weeks 4 and 13 you may see your caregiver or doctor once in 4 weeks.
● Urine tests and blood tests are taken to check the expecting mother’s health. These tests help identify fluctuations in blood pressure, blood sugar, etc.
● You may get 2 ultrasounds done during this period – one to confirm pregnancy and one to check for Down Syndrome and other abnormalities.
● During this period, more blood tests are taken to rule out gestational diabetes and hypertension and to check for genetic conditions and birth defects.
● An anomaly scan will be done during the 20th week to examine the baby’s development. This scan checks the baby thoroughly.
● In case of high-risk pregnancies, further tests and scans will be taken accordingly.
● Now your check-ups will become more frequent. Between weeks 28 and 36 you will have a check-up every two weeks. After entering week 36, your check-up will be every week. The frequency can increase in case of high-risk pregnancies.
● Another set of blood work will be done to check for gestational diabetes, hypertension, anaemia, infections and RH antibodies.
● You will get another ultrasound to track the development of the baby and one closer to the due date to check the position of the baby.
● Towards the end, your doctor will do a routine pelvic exam to check for signs of dilation.
● During the check-ups, fetal heart rate will also be monitored using a Doppler.
Still not sure why you should go for your regular check-ups during pregnancy? Here are a few more reasons why you should not skip these check-ups:
1. Before conception, check-ups can help you prepare for pregnancy both mentally and physically. Your doctor might prescribe folate and other supplements to help improve your health conditions for pregnancy.
2. Close monitoring of the expecting mother’s health can help identify potential health risks and complications at the earliest. When identified early, your doctor can come up with a suitable treatment plan.
3. Close monitoring of the baby will ensure the baby is developing as per expectations. In case of complications, the required treatment or additional support can be given to ensure the safety of the baby.
4. Ensures the mother-to-be takes all the important prenatal vitamins that are beneficial not just for the developing baby but will also help her recover faster post-delivery.
5. Regularly meeting a medical professional to confirm everything is on track can put you at ease mentally and help reduce stress. You can enjoy your pregnancy without worrying unnecessarily.
Before you start seeing a doctor for your regular check-ups during pregnancy, consider the following points to choose the best doctor for your needs:
1. Does your health insurance cover the doctor you are considering?
2. Check on the authenticity, experience, and reputation of the caregiver. You can check online reviews, ask friends, family, etc.
3. Do you prefer a male or a female caregiver?
4. Is your doctor easily accessible? Choose a caregiver who will respond immediately or direct you to the right sources if they can’t be present personally.
5. Consider the traffic and distance before you choose the facility. You don’t want to waste precious time just travelling.
6. Will they cooperate with the method of delivery you choose? Some facilities do not support home births, water births, or lotus births. Check beforehand to avoid last-minute confusion or disappointments.
Regular check-ups during pregnancy are vital for both mother and baby. It ensures both are safe and the pregnancy journey is smooth. Regular check-ups can help identify and rectify complications at the earliest. So, don’t hesitate to go for those check-ups without fail!
● Regular check-ups during pregnancy help ensure that both mother and baby are safe and that the pregnancy is progressing as expected.
● Skipping prenatal appointments can result in missing important tests or symptoms that indicate complications in the pregnancy or with the mother or baby’s health.
● The check-ups give the expecting mother a chance to clarify all her doubts and be reassured by the doctor. Knowing everything is progressing well will put her at ease and reduce her stress.
