When you suspect the possibility of pregnancy or have already confirmed it with a home test or One simple test, you must make an appointment for the first prenatal examination. Ideally, you should present between 6 and 8 weeks after the date of your last period. During this visit, you will meet the obstetrician-gynecologist and the nurse-midwife who will accompany you during this stage. In addition, during this consultation, the doctor collects important information. He wants to know your state of health and establish the probable degree of risk of your pregnancy.
Among the most relevant data in your history, the following stand out:
- Medical and gynecological history
- Previous surgeries
- Previous pregnancies
- Family medical history
Use drugs and other substances, such as caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs of abuse.
Next, the team estimates your likely due date based on the day your last period started. This date serves as a guide to assess the course of pregnancy and fetal growth. As well as to schedule childbirth.
Afterward, the obstetrics team such as Unity Screen for example performs a complete physical examination and pays particular attention to the breasts, pelvic floor, and genital tract. Apart from this, the following aspects of the pregnant woman are assessed:
- Blood pressure
- Weight and size
- Body mass index
- Papillomavirus test
Certain laboratory tests are useful to complete the clinical examination, such as a blood test, a urine test, or an immunity test.
Before finalizing the consultation, the doctor and the midwife take a few minutes to clarify the doubts related to the pregnancy, the changes inherent in this stage, and the healthy practices or habits that the woman must adopt from this moment on. Among them are dietary care, the need for vitamin supplements, and sports.
Visits To The Obstetrician
Obstetrical visits are scheduled according to the week of gestation and the state of health of the mother and baby. So here is the most common control scheme:
Every four weeks: up to 28 weeks of pregnancy.
Every two weeks: from week 28 to week 36 inclusive.
Once a week: from week 37 until birth.
In the case of a high-risk pregnancy, the diet is adapted to individual needs and what the doctor deems appropriate.
Prenatal Tests And Care
These laboratory or imaging tests are useful to complete the information obtained during the consultation.
Laboratory Analysis
As part of the laboratory tests, certain fundamental aspects of the health of the pregnant woman are evaluated, such as:
Mother’s blood group: blood group and RH factor are determined. The baby’s father must also carry it out in case of incompatibility. The Coombs test is important to detect if the woman has anti-Rh antibodies.
Hematology: Hemoglobin levels, white blood cell count, and platelets are tested.
Blood sugar: it is useful to detect the risk of gestational diabetes.
Urine test: useful for determining the presence of bacteria in the urine. Or to diagnose urinary tract infections that do not show symptoms.
Immunity to infections is achieved by looking for antibodies against certain germs, like those that cause rubella, toxoplasmosis, or HIV, among others.
Other tests include genetic tests, which detect alterations in chromosomes (such as Down syndrome) or swabbing of perianal secretions to detect group B streptococcus in the mother.
