Pregnancy care and pre-pregnancy care go hand in hand. The first trimester care can include blood tests, physical examination, talking about lifestyle, etc.

1.... first trimester visit

As soon as you suspect that you are pregnant, schedule the first appointment.... Set a convenient time for the first appointment so that you can discuss your medical history and any problems you may face during this time.

Medical history

The specialist may ask you about the following:

• Menstrual cycle, women's medical history and previous pregnancies
• Individual and family medical history
• Exposure to toxic substances
• Using drugs, including prescription, over-the-counter, or supplemental drugs
• Lifestyle, including tobacco, alcohol and caffeine use
• Traveling to areas where diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, Zika virus, etc. are common.

Also share important information about sensitive issues, such as domestic violence, miscarriage, or past addictions, with your doctor so he can better care for you and your baby.

Delivery Date

This date does not predict the exact time of delivery.... It only determines the time of 40 weeks of pregnancy.... Few women give birth on time.... However, determining this date is very important and allows the gynecologist to monitor the development of the fetus and the progress of the pregnancy and plan the necessary tests or operations at the most appropriate time.

To estimate the time of delivery, the specialist doctor adds seven days to the start date of the last period and delays it by three months.... This date is approximately equivalent to 40 weeks from the first day of the last period.... The obstetrician and gynecologist can confirm this date using ultrasound.

Physical examination

The specialist will measure your blood pressure, height and weight and calculate your body mass index to determine how much your weight should change to have a healthy pregnancy.

The specialist doctor may perform a physical examination, including breast, pelvic, heart, lung and thyroid examinations..

Laboratory test

During the first visit, you may have blood drawn:

• Blood group must be determined: It also includes Rh status....Rh coefficient is a type of hereditary characteristic that is related to a specific protein on the surface of red blood cells....If the mother's Rh is negative and the father's Rh is positive, you should be more careful during pregnancy.
• Measuring Hemoglobin: Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein found in red blood cells that allows cells to carry oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body and return carbon dioxide from other parts of the body to the lungs to be exhaled.. Low hemoglobin or red blood cell count is a sign of anemia. It can affect pregnancy.
• Check for immunity to specific diseases: This usually includes measles and chicken pox, unless there is evidence of vaccination or natural immunity in the medical record.
• Occurrence of any infection and disease should be diagnosed: Specialist doctor suggests blood test to diagnose diseases such as hepatitis B, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).

Fetal malformation test

Conducting prenatal tests as one of the most important cares during pregnancy provides you with valuable information about the health of the fetus. The specialist doctor usually suggests a variety of genetic tests, which include ultrasound or blood tests to detect some genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome.

Lifestyle and prenatal care

The specialist doctor will talk to you about the importance of nutrition and vitamins during pregnancy.... Consult your doctor about exercise, sex, dental care, vaccinations and travel during pregnancy.... It is also better to ask your doctor about the work environment and the use of medicine during this period.... If you smoke, ask your doctor to help you quit smoking.

Natural discomforts during pregnancy

You may notice changes in your body early in pregnancy....breasts become tender and inflamed....nausea with or without vomiting (nausea of ​​pregnancy) is also common....if you have severe nausea, talk to a specialist.

Other visits in the first three months

Subsequent visits, often scheduled every four weeks in the first trimester, may be shorter than the first visit... Near the end of the first trimester (ie, after 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy), you can hear the baby's heartbeat using a small machine that reflects sound waves from the baby's heart (called a Doppler).

These sessions are a good time to talk about your concerns and ask questions....Also, remember ways to contact the specialist between visits....once you know there are ways to get help, you'll feel more comfortable.

2.... second trimester visit

Second trimester care includes regular tests and measurement of fetal growth.. The purpose of the necessary care is that the mother and the fetus remain healthy during this period. In the best case, these cares start as soon as the pregnancy is known. The specialist doctor adjusts the time of the second trimester visits once every four weeks.

During second trimester visits, you can expect the following.

An overview of the basics

The specialist will take your blood pressure and weight at each appointment.... Talk to the specialist about any concerns you have.... Then it's time to focus on the fetus.... The specialist may:

• Monitor Fetal Growth: A doctor can measure fetal growth by measuring the distance between the pubic bone and the top of the uterus (uterine height). After the 20th week, this measurement is often equal to the number of weeks pregnant minus or plus 2 cm.
• Hear the sound of his heart: In the second trimester visits, you can hear the sound of the fetal heart using the Doppler device.... The Doppler device detects the movement and transmits it as sound.
• Examination of fetal movements: Inform the doctor when you notice the kicking or movement of the fetus... Remember that the mother notices these movements at different times and it is usually not possible to predict the movement of the fetus during this period... You will probably notice the movement of the fetus for the first time from the 18th to 20th week of pregnancy.

One of the other prenatal care during this period is consulting a specialist about getting the necessary vaccines.

Pregnancy test

During the second trimester, different types of pregnancy tests are recommended:

• Genetic test: Blood test is prescribed to investigate genetic or chromosomal diseases such as spina bifida or Down syndrome.. If the results are abnormal or worrisome, the doctor will suggest a diagnostic test, usually amniocentesis. In this method, the amniotic fluid is sampled..
• Fetal ultrasound: Fetal ultrasound is a photography method that shows the image of the fetus in the womb using sound waves... With the help of advanced ultrasound, the specialist can examine the anatomy of the fetus.... In this way, you can also determine the gender of the fetus.
• Blood test: You may be prescribed a blood test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy to check your blood cell count, iron level and gestational diabetes.. If your blood is Rh negative (a type of inherited trait related to the presence of a protein on the surface of red blood cells), you should have an antibody blood test to evaluate Rh... If this condition is not treated, especially in a subsequent pregnancy with an Rh positive fetus, The antibody crosses the placenta and attacks the red blood cells of the fetus.

Provide the necessary information to the specialist

Usually the mother feels better in the second trimester....pregnancy nausea lessens....you notice the baby moving....your belly becomes more visible....so many things are happening.

Talk to a professional about your concerns, no matter how silly or trivial....nothing is trivial or trivial when it comes to your and your baby's health.

3... visits of the third quarter

Pregnancy care during this period includes vaginal examination to check the status of the fetus.

Pregnancy care is an important part of a healthy pregnancy, especially as the time of delivery approaches....Depending on the mother's health and pregnancy history, the specialist may ask you to schedule visits every 2 or 4 weeks during the third trimester....From week 36, you should be examined every week until delivery.

Repetition of routine examinations

You will be asked about symptoms such as contractions and discharge or bleeding..

The doctor asks you to pay attention to the amount of movement of the fetus every day and if the fetus does not move as normal, immediately inform the medical team.

Also, talk to the specialist about the vaccines you should inject, such as the flu, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine... It is better to inject the pertussis vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.

Group B strep test

Among prenatal care in the third trimester, screening for group B streptococci (GBS) is performed.... GBS is a type of bacteria that occurs naturally in the intestines or reproductive tract of adults and is not dangerous.... But babies who are exposed to this bacteria during normal delivery can develop serious diseases.

To perform this test, the doctor takes a sample from the vagina and anus....the sample is sent to a laboratory for testing....if the test is positive (or the baby has had GBS in a previous pregnancy), you must inject antibiotics during delivery....antibiotics protect the baby from bacteria.

Learn more: The most dangerous time of pregnancy

Inspection of the baby's condition

One of the most important parts of prenatal care at the end of this period is that the specialist doctor checks the condition of the fetus in the womb to see if its head has lowered or not.

If after the 36th week the fetus is in the opposite direction (its pelvis or legs are down) it is unlikely that it will turn during delivery.... In this case, it is necessary for a doctor specialized in surgery called (external cephalic version) to put pressure on the abdomen and force the fetus to physically turn... Your suggestion is cesarean section...

Ask your questions

Probably, as the time of delivery approaches, many questions will occupy your mind. Should I make a birth plan? Ask any questions you have! Feeling prepared makes you relax before giving birth.

Also, talk about the symptoms you should call your doctor (such as vaginal bleeding or vaginal discharge) and when and how to call your doctor as soon as labor pains begin.

You can meet the best obstetrics and gynecology specialists on the GCORP LLC website and get an appointment or consultation from them.

Source: mayoclinic