Medical Care During Pregnancy | Pregnancy Care

 Hi Guys do you want to know medical care during pregnancy then this article is Absolutly for you because today's topic is antenatal care, meaning medical care during pregnancy. The point of antenatal care is that pregnant ladies can be given such care so that any risk factors that can occur during pregnancy can be identified ...and treated timely and properly....so...Many past incidents come to mind regarding this.

Once I was working in a Gynae unit, a woman came in sudden emergency, her face was totally pale but she delivered as soon as she came. She wasn't even aware of her own blood group. So when she was shifted in the ward after delivery, and all her tests were done, after about 2 hours, while we were arranging for blood, that woman went to the washroom where she fell and passed away. 

Eclampsia

Similarly, many women who come in with eclampsia, meaning when blood pressure is high during pregnancy and they come in with fits resulting in the mother's death or the child or both of them. 

And, sometimes diabetic women come in such situations when they can not feel baby movements and they end up having still births. 

To stay safe from all these complications, antenatal care is important. 

So what you have to do is, first and foremost, as soon as you find out that you're pregnant, meaning if you checked from a pregnancy stick, or got it checked from a clinic, and you get to know that you are pregnant. 

You find a nearby hospital or such clinic where all facilities are available. 

You go and take your booking appointment.

In this appointment what the doctor does is that they will take your detailed history. Which includes your personal history, medical history, your drug history, assuming if you take any medications, your family history, to know if there is any problem like diabetes, blood pressure, etc in your family.

 ...And... other than this history regarding your previous child births is also taken assuming there have been earlier pregnancies. And with this, some tests are done. These tests are very basic which include hemoglobin, urine, your blood group, your blood sugar, hepatitis B and C is checked. 

Ultrasound 

Other than this, doctor can recommend more tests if need be. After this, in this same appointment you are guided about ultrasound which majorly includes the timing of these scans. The first ultrasound is done at an early stage in between 11 to 13 weeks of pregnancy. What's mostly inquired in this scan is the baby's health, heart beat, gestational age, the match of gestational age with the date you tell. 

Second ultrasound is done between 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. In this scan, a detailed check up of the baby is done to know if, God forbid, there is any disability. In addition to this, if the doctor requires, she can call you in for an ultrasound at any time during the whole pregnancy. Please take it out of your mind, many people think that radiation is entering via ultrasound, its wrong,ultrasound are sound waves there is not radiation in them like X-rays.

So if your doctor wants you to get a scan done,please go for it without worrying. 

The next important thing for medical care during pregnancy

The next important thing for medical care during pregnancy that your doctor will tell will be about immunization. During pregnancy, tetanus toxoid injections are given. 

Five of these tetanus toxoid injections, according to the rules of World Health Organization, are to be administered during reproductive period. 

 What is reproductive period? 

The time pregnancy starts till it ends, this period is called reproductive period. If 5 injections are administered during this time the mother and child stay safe.

 When are these injections administered?

When a pregnant lady comes who has no idea if she has take a tetanus shot before or not, one shot of tetanus is given straightaway. After one month, the second shot is given. And third shot is given 6 months after second dose. 

The next 2 doses are given 1 years apart, each. 

But usually what's common here is woman doesn't know about her tetanus shots and the doctor gives one shot of tetanus in 7th month and the next in 8th month of pregnancy. 

Other than the injections if you need any advice, about your diet, you can ask the doctor what to eat, about your workout, you can ask about pregnancy safe exercises. 

Doctor Advice

The next important thing for medical care during pregnancy .If you have any irregularities in your tests, your doctor can advise you supplements. Moreover, if you are a working woman, you can talk about it with your doctor that whether how long can you work or should you even work. 

You can seek all such advise during your second booking appointment.

How many total visits are required? 

If you have no complications and its your first pregnancy then you need at least 8 visits to the doctor. 

...And... If you have previous pregnancies with no complications then you're required to visit your doctor 6 times. 

So, in this way, suppose if someone lives far away from the hospital even that person must at least visit the doctor 4 times. 

In this way, your doctor will have all your records and you will also be updated about any problems also you will know when you go for delivery which hospital to go for so that all your history is available at that hospital. 

In this way you and your child can be safe, and when both of you will be safe, it will become a joyous moment for all your family. I hope you liked today's article medical care during pregnancy  .Take care of yourselves. Good Day.