What does prenatal care include?

Prenatal care is far more than just regular prenatal check-ups. It is the sum of four types of related care throughout pregnancy, from confirmation of pregnancy to before delivery, including physiological monitoring, daily care, psychological support, and preparation for delivery. The focus of each gestational week will be dynamically adjusted according to the status of the pregnant mother and fetus.

I have been in obstetrics clinics for almost 8 years, and I have seen too many pregnant mothers who thought that everything would be fine after a B-ultrasound. Last month, I met a girl who was 26 weeks pregnant. She found it troublesome to check her urine and blood pressure every time, so she skipped routine items twice in a row. When she was having a major ovulation, her blood pressure was taken by the way. It had soared to 145/92, and her urine protein also showed two plus signs. Fortunately, she was discovered early, adjusted her sodium intake and measured her blood pressure at home every day, so she did not develop into preeclampsia in the end. In fact, in addition to the familiar special screenings for early stage pregnancy, mid stage pregnancy, major ovarian abnormalities, and glucose tolerance, routine prenatal check-ups also include blood pressure, weight, uterine height, abdominal circumference, and hematuria routines that are required to check the status of the pregnant mother and fetus. If you have hyperthyroidism, asthma, or were obese before pregnancy, additional special monitoring is required. These are the most basic parts of prenatal care.

Don’t think that just because you pass the prenatal check-up, you can let yourself go. Daily diet, exercise, and lifestyle adjustments actually account for nearly half of prenatal care. In the past two years, there was a pregnant mother whose elders always told her to eat more. She gained 52 pounds during the entire pregnancy, and the fetus grew to 8 pounds and 7 taels. In the end, she suffered two antenatal tumours, and she was also found to have abnormal glucose tolerance after delivery. Nowadays, we all calculate the total weight gain range based on the mother's pre-pregnancy body mass index. There is no need to drink bone soup all the time, just enough meat, eggs, milk and fresh vegetables. If there are no taboos such as placenta previa and habitual miscarriage, walking three to four thousand steps a day and doing gentle pregnancy and childbirth yoga can save a lot of effort during delivery. Oh, and there is oral care that many people ignore. The hormone levels during pregnancy are high, and the gums are prone to bleeding. If the dental caries is not taken care of before pregnancy, the pain during pregnancy will not even allow you to take medicine casually. This is what we will repeatedly remind you every time during the prenatal check-up.

When it comes to nutritional supplements, there are different opinions. Some people think that normal meals are enough, and there is no need to take additional supplements. Others think that DHA, multivitamins, and calcium tablets should be taken from early pregnancy to delivery. We generally recommend that if you eat a balanced diet and are not picky about food, in addition to the mandatory folic acid, you can supplement other deficiencies. For example, supplement calcium if you have leg cramps, and supplement iron if you are found to be anemic. You don’t need to blindly follow the trend and buy a bunch of imported supplements, which will increase the metabolic burden.

In addition to physical care, psychological counseling is actually something we have paid more and more attention to in recent years. Last month, there was a pregnant mother with her second child who was 34 weeks pregnant. She kept her head down every time she came for a prenatal check-up. After asking, she found out that everyone in the family was focused on the eldest child, and no one cared about her insomnia. She was always worried that she would not be able to take care of the birth of her second child. Later, we talked with her husband twice, and recommended her to our hospital’s support group for pregnant mothers, and her condition gradually improved. From relieving the anxiety of pregnancy in the early stages of pregnancy, to helping everyone relieve the fear of childbirth in the third trimester, and even teaching people in advance how to deal with postpartum hormone fluctuations, these invisible psychological supports are also a very important part of prenatal care.

After 36 weeks of pregnancy, the focus of prenatal care slowly shifts to preparation for delivery. Instead of just packing a delivery bag, we will teach you what regular contractions are and what to do when your water breaks. We will also learn the Lamaze breathing method in advance, which can be used when it hurts during birth. We will also teach you the correct latch on the breast for breastfeeding and how to start breastfeeding in advance, so that you don't have to be in a hurry after giving birth.

In fact, after all, prenatal care is never a formalized standardized process. It is tailored to each pregnant mother's different circumstances. The ultimate goal is to make the pregnant mother suffer less and the baby can be born healthy.