Antenatal care refers to the medical support you receive from healthcare professionals during pregnancy. It’s also known as maternity or pregnancy care. Throughout your pregnancy, you’ll have appointments with specialists, such as the best gynaecologist in Hyderabad at Apollo Hospital. It’s essential to begin antenatal care as soon as you confirm your pregnancy. You can easily start by booking a gynaecologist online consultation. Continue reading to discover everything you need to know about what antenatal care involves.
What is Antenatal Care?
Maternity care, or antenatal care, ensures that both you and your baby stay healthy during pregnancy. The midwife or doctor overseeing your care will:
- Monitor the health of you and your baby.
- Provide valuable information about maintaining a healthy pregnancy, including advice on diet and exercise.
- Discuss your options and choices for care throughout pregnancy, labour, and birth.
- Address any questions or concerns you may have.
Starting antenatal care early is crucial for a healthy pregnancy journey.
What Does Antenatal Care Include?
There are several key components of antenatal care, such as:
- Checkups and Tests
During pregnancy, you’ll be offered a variety of tests and screenings to ensure your health and the wellbeing of your baby. These tests are designed to make your pregnancy safer, monitor development, and detect potential conditions early on. Some of the key tests and check-ups included in antenatal care are:
- Weight and height measurements
- Urine tests
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Blood group and rhesus factor determination
- Iron deficiency anaemia screening
- Gestational diabetes screening
These routine assessments help ensure a healthy pregnancy for both you and your baby.
- Tracking the Baby’s Movements
Tracking a baby’s movements is a crucial aspect of antenatal care, helping both mothers and healthcare providers monitor the pregnancy and foetal development. By keeping track of your baby’s movements, your healthcare provider can assess how active your baby is and whether their growth is on track. The number of movements you feel will change as your pregnancy progresses, typically increasing over time, making it important to observe these changes. By noting any shifts in activity or movement patterns, potential issues can be detected early, allowing for timely interventions if necessary. Monitoring movements can also provide peace of mind, reassuring expectant mothers that their baby is growing healthily inside.
- Lifestyle Management
During antenatal care, expectant mothers receive guidance on the necessary lifestyle changes to promote the health and well-being of both mother and baby. Your doctor will offer valuable advice on maintaining a healthy diet. While a special diet is not needed, it’s essential to eat a variety of foods daily to ensure a proper balance of nutrients. Though most vitamins and minerals can be obtained through food, taking a folic acid supplement is important to cover any gaps during pregnancy. In addition to diet, your doctor can recommend an appropriate amount of exercise. Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of complications such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and DVT. Exercise also helps improve mood, energy levels, and sleep quality during pregnancy.
Why Is Antenatal Care Necessary?
Antenatal care is essential for every expecting mother for several key reasons:
- Early Detection of Health Issues: Regular antenatal visits help identify potential health concerns or complications early on, allowing for better management and control during pregnancy.
- Pre-birth Education: It provides valuable information about labour pain, pregnancy, and delivery, empowering parents to make informed decisions as they prepare for childbirth.
- Nutrition Counselling: Antenatal care offers personalised nutrition advice to ensure you receive the right nutrients at each stage of your pregnancy.
- Stress Management: Doctors can help manage stress caused by hormonal changes and anxiety, providing emotional support during antenatal visits.
- Monitoring Foetal Growth and Development: Through regular check-ups, doctors track your baby’s growth and development using tools like ultrasounds and Doppler tests, allowing for early detection of abnormalities.
- Vaccines and Screenings: Pregnant women receive vaccines and undergo screenings (like blood pressure measurements and glucose tests) to protect both mother and baby from serious infections and health issues during pregnancy and delivery.
Antenatal care is essential for ensuring the health and well-being of both the mother and baby throughout pregnancy. It includes regular checkups, tests, and lifestyle guidance that support a healthy pregnancy journey. If you’re in the city, seeking guidance from the best gynaecologist in Hyderabad will ensure expert care during this crucial time. Additionally, scheduling a gynaecologist online consultation is a convenient way to start your antenatal care and get professional advice right from the beginning of your pregnancy.
