10 milestones pregnant women need to remember

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Ly Thi Thanh Nha - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec International Hospital Da Nang.
The time of the first prenatal visit is very important for the mother as well as the fetus. Pregnant women need to remember 10 important antenatal check-up milestones and proactively go to the doctor on schedule to promptly detect abnormalities during pregnancy.

1. First prenatal check-up: about 5 - 8 weeks

The first prenatal check-up usually takes place when a pregnant woman is about 5-8 weeks pregnant. At the first prenatal visit, the doctor will assign some of the following assessments:
Check weight and height to calculate BMI of the body to assess overweight and obesity. If there is an abnormality, the doctor will guide you on how to control your weight during pregnancy to minimize possible complications. Blood tests for the hormone bHcg can be performed in cases where the ultrasound is not clear of the gestational sac or the ultrasound shows abnormal pregnancy. Check your blood pressure to know if a pregnant woman has high blood pressure and take steps to prevent the risk of preeclampsia. Ultrasound to check fetal position and gestational age to promptly detect abnormalities such as ectopic pregnancy... Calculate the gestational age and due date of the baby based on the first day of the last menstrual period. Perform blood tests to check for some of the following diseases: measles, chickenpox, hepatitis B, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Rh factor, blood type,... At this examination, the doctor will Counseling pregnant women on how to supplement with essential vitamins and minerals during pregnancy, lifestyle counseling, advice on drugs and foods to avoid during pregnancy,...

2. 2nd antenatal visit: During the period from 11th week to 13th week, 6 days

During the second prenatal visit, the doctor will perform a weight check, blood pressure measurement, urinalysis, blood tests, and ultrasound to assess the mother's health and the development of the fetus.
The doctor will also order a Double test and ultrasound to check for major abnormalities that may be encountered at this gestational age, such as: Infertility, umbilical hernia, large bladder..., especially Nuchal translucency ultrasound is used to assess whether the fetus is at risk for Down syndrome (and some chromosomal abnormalities such as Edward or Patau disease). If the nuchal translucency ultrasound results show that the fetus has a high risk of genetic disease, the doctor will advise the necessary tests to help diagnose the disease, such as: NIPT test (NIPT test). non-invasive prenatal screening) or chorionic villus... NIPT test has the outstanding advantage of being non-invasive, completely harmless to the fetus and can be performed as early as 8 weeks onwards. NIPT is recommended for high-risk subjects and can even be the first choice for pregnant women in screening for aneuploidy in the first trimester.

3. 3rd antenatal checkup: from week 16-22

During the 3rd prenatal check-up, the doctor will continue to perform routine checks such as weight, blood pressure, ultrasound, urine test,... to monitor the development of the fetus. If you have not had a Double test, your doctor will order a Triple test, this is a blood test done between 15-18 weeks of pregnancy. These tests are used to screen for diseases such as in the first trimester of pregnancy, but are less sensitive than the Double test. Amniocentesis: If previous tests suggest that your baby is at risk for birth defects, your doctor will recommend an amniocentesis between 15 and 18 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnant women should also note that this procedure has a risk of miscarriage, but with a relatively low rate, only about 1%.

4. 4th antenatal checkup: between 22-28 weeks

To monitor your pregnancy, your doctor will perform the following assessments:
Check weight Measure blood pressure Prenatal examination: Measure the distance from the uterine stone to the pubic bone (known as uterine height and birth circumference measurement). women) to monitor fetal growth, check fetal heart rate Urine test Ultrasound scan for fetal malformations. The doctor will order 4D ultrasound to check the fetal morphology, screen for abnormalities (heart, limbs, abdomen, bones, brain, spine, kidneys) and check the position of the placenta, the amount of water. Screening for gestational diabetes: With a glucose tolerance test to detect gestational diabetes in time and intervene by changing diet, lifestyle and possibly using more insulin Vaccinate tetanus VAT first nose

5. 5th prenatal visit: from week 28-32

The doctor will use ultrasound to screen for the third trimester of pregnancy to detect late-onset fetal abnormalities such as intestinal obstruction, ventriculomegaly, fetal infection, fetal heart rate, and fetal size estimation. , blood tests, urine tests to monitor fetal growth. During this prenatal visit, the pregnant woman will receive the 2nd dose of VAT tetanus vaccine.

6. 6th prenatal visit: from week 32-34

The doctor will check the fetal heart, estimate the size of the fetus, blood tests, urine tests, non-stress tests to monitor the development of the fetus.

7. 7th prenatal visit: from 34-36 weeks

Your doctor will perform the same assessments at your 6th prenatal visit to monitor your baby's growth and mother's health.

8. 8th, 9th, 10th antenatal visit: from week 36 to week 39

This is an important stage because the pregnant woman is about to enter the labor process. At this stage, pregnant women will have to go to antenatal care once a week. During the examination, the doctor will conduct routine examinations such as ultrasound, blood tests to prepare for delivery, urine, perform a Non-stress test and check the cervix to monitor the pregnancy.
In addition, the doctor may recommend additional pelvic evaluation tests to see if a woman should have a vaginal delivery or a cesarean section. The doctor will also advise pregnant women on how to recognize signs of impending birth so that they can be hospitalized in time.
Perform Non-stress test, also known as fetal heart rate measurement: based on the change of fetal heart rate corresponding to fetal movement. In addition, the test helps the doctor find out if the fetus is getting enough oxygen.
Vinmec International General Hospital offers a Package Maternity Care Program for pregnant women right from the first months of pregnancy with a full range of antenatal care visits, periodical 3D and 4D ultrasounds and routine tests to ensure that the mother is healthy and the fetus is developing comprehensively. Pregnant women will no longer be alone when entering labor because having a loved one to help them during childbirth always brings peace of mind and happiness.
Mother and baby will receive comprehensive care: before, during and after birth. Mother will be performed health check-ups, especially thyroid screening, Rubella test; Testing for parasites transmitted from mother to child. The baby will be screened before birth and after birth to help screen for abnormal diseases and birth defects right from the womb. In particular, at Vinmec, doctors will analyze the results and provide genetic counseling for prenatal screening.
In addition, the complete "painless delivery" service during and after delivery using non-morphine epidural and neuromuscular anaesthesia will remove the fear of childbirth for many mothers. During the birth process, the mother will be guided by the midwives on how to push and breathe properly, the baby will be born in just 10-15 minutes. After birth, the baby will be cared for in a sterile room before being returned to the mother.
Pregnant women will rest in a high-class hospital room, designed according to international hotel standards, 1 mother 1 room with full facilities and modern equipment. Mothers will be consulted by nutritionists on how to feed the baby before being discharged from the hospital. Postpartum follow-up with both mother and baby with leading Obstetricians and Paediatricians.
Master. Doctor. Ly Thi Thanh Nha has worked at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital and Quang Tri Provincial General Hospital before working at Vinmec Danang International General Hospital as it is today.
Doctor Nha has strengths and experience in diagnosing, monitoring and treating pregnancy, pregnancy pathology. Pregnancy screening. Perform caesarean section techniques. Laparoscopic surgery to treat ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy.

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