Why Should You Prioritize Antenatal Care? Find Out Here
Becoming a mother is one of the most exciting events in a woman’s life. Taking good care of yourself during 9 months of pregnancy is crucial for you and your baby’s health. Proper antenatal care administered by a qualified professional can also ward off complications or address them effectively.
In this blog, Dr. Asmita Dongare will explore the significance of antenatal care, and antenatal care profile and highlight its essential components. Dr. Asmita Dongare, the best antenatal care service in Baner Pune, offers exceptional antenatal care, diligently seeking out any potential infections, nutritional imbalances, or underlying health conditions.
What is Antenatal care?
The care given to the mother-to-be during pregnancy is termed as antenatal care. This care includes monitoring growth of the baby and supporting and improving the health of the mother for safe delivery of the child. Many pregnancy complications come to light during the antenatal care procedures and early detection of such conditions can save the baby’s life. Examples of such conditions are:
Pre-eclampsia
Anaemia
Hypertension
What to expect with antenatal care?
Normally, minimum 4 antenatal care visits are recommended for all mothers but it is advisable to go for at least 7-10 depending on doctor’s recommendation. First time mothers are usually asked to come in for more appointments. The four antenatal care visits are spread over the following stages of pregnancy while the other visits are interspersing them:
1st visit is to confirm pregnancy
2nd visit is in 2nd trimester
3rd visit is in 3rd trimester
4th and final visit is before the expected due date
At these visits, gynecologists check for the following:
Hemoglobin levels
Blood pressure
Weight check to verify expected weight gain as the pregnancy progresses
Abdominal palpitation to check fetal growth
Urine tests for albumin and protein
Scans as required at specific stages to check fetal development and positioning
All of these may not be carried out at every appointment.
Antenatal Screenings and Test:
Dr. Asmita Dongare recommend these screenings might catch pregnancy complications or genetic conditions that would otherwise go undetected. Other benefits of this testing include pertinent care strategies for the fetus or affected newborns, your personal reassurance if results are normal, and the discovery of disorders at a stage when prenatal care can help.
These tests generally provide the probability or possibility of a condition. Dr. Asmita Dongare is comprised of knowledgeable, compassionate physicians and staff who can help you navigate your options and guide you through the process.
There are various types of antenatal screenings and tests, including:
Ultrasound scans: These use sound waves to create images of the fetus in the womb. Ultrasound scans can help determine the gestational age, check for multiple pregnancies, assess fetal growth and development, and identify any structural abnormalities.
Blood tests: Blood tests are done to screen for a range of conditions, including blood type and Rh factor, anemia, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), gestational diabetes, and certain genetic disorders such as Down syndrome and neural tube defects.
Urine tests: Urine tests are used to detect conditions such as urinary tract infections, proteinuria (the presence of protein in the urine, which can indicate preeclampsia), and gestational diabetes.
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT): NIPT involves analyzing a sample of the mother’s blood to screen for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome.
Genetic counseling: Genetic counseling may be recommended for couples with a family history of genetic disorders or individuals who are carriers of certain genetic conditions. It helps assess the risk of passing on genetic disorders to the baby and provides information about available testing options.
Who Should Consider Antenatal Screenings?
The importance of these tests is amplified for a certain portion of the population. Some pregnancies carry a higher risk of birth defects or genetic problems. This can be the case if you’ve experienced one or more of the following:
Had a previous miscarriage.
Experienced a prior stillbirth.
Had a premature baby in the past.
Previously had a baby with a birth defect.
Have a genetic disorder that tends to run in your or your spouse’s family.
Have diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune disorders, or frequent seizures.
Have had preeclampsia during other pregnancies.
Have had gestational diabetes during other pregnancies.
Are the maternal parent aged 35 or older.
Are the paternal parent aged 40 or older.
Other factors contribute to a higher recommendation for these screenings. It’s best to talk to your gynecologists and determine which avenue aligns with your pregnancy needs. Our Specialist take a compassionate, personal approach to your prenatal experience. We seek to ensure you receive expert, considerate care complete with all the reassurance you may need as you move through your pregnancy.
Antenatal care is critical as it ensures that both the mother and child go through a safe and comfortable pregnancy. The periodic monitoring helps the gynecologist and expert to take timely actions in cases where things aren’t going as expected. This way, antenatal care improves the success rate of pregnancies, especially for first-time mothers.
Dr. Asmita Dongare offers Antenatal care for your every concern. The value that we put on family and health means that we never take any shortcuts when it comes to the safety of your pregnancy and the promise of your new beginning. she provides the best antenatal care service in Baner, Pune. To schedule an appointment with us, please call 9560506620 or Click on Book Appointmenttoday.