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ANTENATAL
CARE
The
main objective of ante-natal care is to monitor the health
of the pregnant women, as well as the health and development
of the baby, so that it culminates in the delivery of a healthy
baby, with a healthy
mother. It can help predict possible problems with
pregnancy, labour or birth, so that they can be either avoided
or treated.
The
concept of organised ante-natal care was introduced in the
United States as early as 1911, when women were urged to enroll
for medical advice, as early as possible in pregnancy. The
systematic ante-natal care helps in reducing maternal (relating
to the mother) and foetal morbidity and mortality.
Goals
of Ante-Natal Care In
vast majority of the cases, pregnancy and childbirth are natural
events that often proceed without problems, however antenatal
care helps to :
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Define
the health status of the mother and foetus. |
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Determine
the gestational age (the age of the embryo counting
from the time
of fertilization) of the foetus. |
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Identify
those few patients, who may develop problems, so that
appropriate
treatment
can be given.
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To
initiate a plan for continuing care during pregnancy
and post pregnancy
(post partum) period.
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Your
First Visit
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Your
first antenatal visit will probably be as soon as you
miss the period, to
confirm the pregnancy. Please consider all these
visits to the doctor as time well spent. Before every
visit make a note of things you would want to discuss
with the doctor, for pregnancy amnesia is famous and
makes you forget things easily. |
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Ante-natal
care will also give you an opportunity to get familiar
with your obstretician. It will help the obstretician
to know more about her patient’s physical and
mental framework. A visit to the hospital in which you
plan to deliver, will
benefit you by becoming familiar with the surroundings,
when you go in for labour. |
During
Ante-natal care your obstretician will do several tests and
ask you questions to make sure you and your baby are fit and
healthy. Most of these tests are routine, but if your doctor
anticipates a certain problem, special additional tests will
have to be done.
On Your
First Visit The Doctor Will:
Ask You
A Detail History Involving
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Menstrual
history. |
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History
of any existing medical problems e.g. Asthma, Tuberculosis,
Jaundice,
Diabetes
and Hypertension. |
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History
of contraceptive usage. |
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History
of smoking / consumption of alcohol. |
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History
of all medications. |
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History
of outcome of previous pregnancies e.g. any abortion,
any D& C (Dilatation
& Curettage) or still birth. |
Conduct
A Physical Examination
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Estimation
of height and weight : To ascertain proper growth of
the baby. |
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Blood
pressure measurement : Check for pregnancy induced blood
pressure,
which usually rises in the 2nd or 3rd trimester. |
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Examination
of the breasts : For inverted nipples which makes breast
feeding
difficult. |
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General
body check up : Ears, nose, throat examination, heart,
lungs, abdomen,
skin, teeth and extremities |
Obstretical
Examination
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A
gentle per speculum examination is conducted to check
for any excess
vaginal discharge i.e. an instrument called speculum
is put into the vagina to
examine the appearance of the vagina. |
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A
per vaginal examination is conducted to confirm the
stage of pregnancy i.e.
a gentle introduction of index and middle finger into
the vagina to feel the
size of the uterus. |
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Per
abdomen examination for height of fundus of uterus and
FHS (foetal heart sounds)
in later weeks i.e. feeling of the abdomen for determining
the top of the
uterus (fundus of uterus). |
Some
Routine Laboratory Tests
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Haemoglobin
estimation: to rule out anaemia. |
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Urine
Test: to
rule out urinary infection. |
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On
the 1st visit the blood group and Rh factor is ascertained. |
Your
Obstretician Will Further Instruct You On
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Your diet.
* Relaxation, sleep and recreation.
* Bowel habits, bathing and clothing.
* Sexual intercourse.
* Smoking and alcohol.
* Yoga and exercises.
* Working women life style.
* Expected date of delivery (EDD).
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Finally,
she will give you a record of everything which you need to
take with
you,
on every ante-natal visit. She will further advise you on
the frequency of
the antenatal visits.
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