Full routine antenatal check-up throughout pregnancy

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was written by Master, Doctor Nguyen Nhu Thu Truc - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
Periodic antenatal check-ups help pregnant women monitor the health of mother and baby, and promptly handle abnormalities that occur. In addition, pregnant women also have the opportunity to receive proper health care advice for the most comprehensive development of the baby in the womb.

Why should regular antenatal check-up?

Periodic antenatal check-ups are extremely necessary during pregnancy because of the following meanings:
Help pregnant women understand the development status of the fetus through antenatal checkups. avoid during pregnancy to have a healthy pregnancy Because the test results are accurate for a certain period of time The results of some studies show that mothers who adhere to a regular antenatal check-up schedule have a higher rate of pregnancy. Fetal mortality rate is 5 times lower, and the baby's birth weight is more standard when born

Routine antenatal check-up in the first trimester

1. First prenatal check-up

Time: fetus from 5 = 8 weeks old.
Purpose: Determine for sure pregnancy or not, and the position of implantation of the fetus
Tests to be performed:
Determine BMI (based on height and weight): assess whether you are overweight , obesity or not Blood pressure measurement: determine if you have high blood pressure, risk of preeclampsia or not Urine test: check the level of pregnancy hormone (hCG) to determine fetal development Ultrasound : check the position and age of the fetus to detect abnormalities Determine the expected date of delivery and calculate the gestational age based on the first day of the last menstrual period Blood test: to check the antibody level after injection vaccines (antibodies to measles, chickenpox, hepatitis B, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, ...) Advice:
Take folic acid supplements to prevent birth defects in the fetus Nutrition advice, diet and food hygiene Giving up bad habits or working environment affecting the development of the fetus: smoking, working in a toxic environment, drinking alcohol,... questions about pre-screening Pregnancy History: you have had a miscarriage, premature birth, pre-eclampsia, chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, have had a baby with birth defects, you or someone you know hereditary diseases

2. Second visit

Time: the fetus is about 8 weeks old
Purpose: For a more comprehensive examination, the doctor will use an ultrasound to determine the fetal heart, fetal problems, if at the first visit, the baby is too small, the doctor unidentified.
Tests: the same basic tests as the first time

3. 3rd antenatal checkup

Time: from 10 to 13 weeks of pregnancy 6 days
Purpose: Checking for abnormalities in the fetus
Test:
Thalassemia test: determining the risk of hereditary anemia, broken red blood cells soon lead to lack of oxygen or not. Double test: measuring fetal heart rate using ultrasound to check for limb malformations, ultrasound checking for diaphragmatic hernias Ultrasound measuring nuchal translucency: to assess the risk of fetal Down syndrome. If the nuchal translucency ultrasound results show that your baby is at risk for genetic diseases, your doctor will recommend a chorionic villus sampling test (CVS). A chorionic villus biopsy is done as early as 10 to 13 weeks of pregnancy. The chorionic villus sampling test is an invasive test that has a very low risk of miscarriage with a very low rate of less than 1%.

Routine antenatal check-up in the second trimester (week 14 - 27 weeks 6 days)

1. Fourth visit

Time: 14 - 16 weeks fetus
Purpose: check fetal development and risks of birth defects
Tests: common health check-ups such as blood tests , urine, ultrasound, ...

2. 5th prenatal check-up

Time: When the fetus is 16 - 20 weeks old
Purpose: Check fetal development and birth defects with more accurate tests.
Test:
BMI Check blood pressure Prenatal check-up: check heart rate and measure uterus using gestational age Urine test: to check blood sugar, protein to screen for signs of diabetes pregnancy and the risk of preeclampsia Ultrasound: to check fetal growth and detect abnormalities in the amount of amniotic fluid Amniocentesis: a test done when a doctor detects abnormalities related to abnormalities fetal defects. The appropriate time to do the test is from week 15 to week 18. Test results are returned after 24 hours to 4 weeks Triple test: a test to help detect neural tube defects, genetic disorders

3. 6th prenatal check-up

Time: fetus from 20 - 24 weeks old
Purpose: check fetal morphology, screen for abnormalities (heart, limbs, abdomen, bones, brain, spine, kidneys) and check position placental adhesions, amniotic fluid volume.
Test:
BMI Check blood pressure Prenatal checkup: To calculate gestational age and check fetal heart Urine test Ultrasound to check fetal development and check the amount of amniotic fluid If the test shows abnormalities often serious physical problems, the doctor will consider the indication for termination of pregnancy. This should be done before the 24th week of pregnancy

4. 7th prenatal check-up

Time: fetus from 24 weeks - 27 weeks 6 days
Purpose: Check blood type inconsistency, abnormal changes in the mother's body that can affect the fetus
Test:
Check BMI Check blood pressure Prenatal check-up: To calculate gestational age and check fetal heart Urine test Ultrasound to check fetal development and check the amount of amniotic fluid Blood test to screen for gestational diabetes Blood test to identify blood type incompatibility between mother and fetus: your doctor will recommend another blood test to check if your body is making antibodies against Rh positive factor baby's. Your doctor will order more monitoring if the test results show that your body is producing antibodies against your baby's Rh positive. Indications Rh immune glubulin injection can be injected into your body to stop your baby's production of antibodies against Rh positive

Pregnancy check-up schedule in the 3rd trimester

1. 8th prenatal check-up

Time: Fetal from 28 - 36 weeks old
Purpose: Check fetal position, fetal development, and umbilical cord vaccination
Test:
Blood test Urine test Fetal ultrasound: to confirm Determine the fetal position and guide the fetal position, check the cervix for signs of impending birth. Umbilical cord tetanus vaccination: 2 vaccinations, 1 month apart to prevent tetanus for the baby Test Non-stress (NST): to check the health of the fetus and check if the baby is getting enough oxygen From the 30th week onwards:
Count fetal movements: normal 4 times/hour Re-examination when detecting abnormalities: abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, weak fetal muscles and other abnormal signs

2. 11th to 14th antenatal visit

Time: 36 - 40 weeks fetus
Purpose: Check the uterus and advise on signs of impending birth
Tests:
Cervical examination Ultrasound fetal monitoring Pelvic examination to confirm Determine if you are able to have a normal delivery Non-stress test

3. 15th visit

Time: Fetal from 40 - 42 weeks old
Purpose: Consider whether you give birth by intervention or continue to waitTest:
Examination Ultrasound check amniotic fluid and fetal condition With the desire to bring to Mothers interact with comprehensive and safe care for mother and fetus during the period before - during - after birth, Vinmec International General Hospital deploys all-inclusive maternity services with full integration of the entire pregnancy process. necessary examinations and tests during pregnancy. The Vinmec Maternity Package is developed on the basis of modern equipment, a team of experienced professionals, pregnant women can choose for themselves the appropriate maternity package:
12-week maternity package 27-week maternity package package 36-week maternity package package Maternity package labor package For detailed advice on maternity packages at Vinmec, please contact the hospitals and clinics in the system Vinmec Health System nationwide

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