Are you going to be a Mom? Well Congratulations!
You must be preparing yourself for the upcoming joy ride. But are you opting for antenatal care?
Antenatal care is necessary to monitor your health and the health of your baby before delivery. Once you get the good news of pregnancy, you should visit your doctor and discuss the complete antenatal care required to have a healthy pregnancy.
The first visit to your doctor is usually called the booking appointment. You should visit as early as possible. It’s necessary to keep your health in check so book an appointment before 12 weeks of pregnancy.
On your first visit you might consult your doctor or midwife or both. If it is your second or third pregnancy, they will inquire about the previous one and about any complications that you faced. Few blood samples will also be ordered for testing. This will help in finding your blood group, anaemia, jaundice or any deficiencies you may have. Doctor will prescribe you folic acid supplements to be taken daily. This will eliminate the chances of birth defects in your baby.
On your next visits doctor will order some routine tests. This will reduce the chances of infections that can affect the health of your baby. The routine testing of hepatitis B virus, syphilis, HIV, measles and urinary infections are included in your visits to the doctor.
On every visit your basic measurements including weight, blood pressure, and glucose test will also be conducted. In most cases if your height weight and BMI are below the normal range, extra antenatal care is advised.
After going through the initial tests, your doctor will offer you an ultrasound scan. This scan which is also called dating scan is usually conducted between 10-13 weeks to find out the date baby is due. This scan can also show if you are expecting one or more than one babies.
After the booking of due date, your doctor will order urine test time to time to find out the signs of infection. If you have elevated blood pressure or experiencing protein in your urine, visit your doctor immediately. These can be the signs of pre-eclampsia which can affect you and your baby’s health.
As time passes your belly start growing due the increase in weight of your baby and your uterus rises out. During your visits, doctor also measures the height of this bump to check the baby growth.
Keep telling every detail you feel. Discuss with your doctor the baby’s movements. As the due date reaches, your baby’s head align downwards in the pelvis. Doctor will also check the heartbeat of your baby but not routinely. If you want to listen to the heartbeats, you can ask your physician. Through a ultrasound listening device placed on the abdomen, doctors can make you listen to the louder heartbeats.
If you are looking for doctors in Abu Dhabi, contact KCH King's College Hospital Clinics. Their Obstetrics department provides a wide range of tests, treatments and support for women both before and during pregnancy.
