There are certain must-do’s during pregnancy. Adhering to these religiously will ensure a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby, writes Dr Praveen N S.
The joy of a new life unfolding within you is a life-altering event. Therefore, following a healthy regime during different stages of a pregnancy is essential. Most of the worries and anxiety in pregnancy is caused due to misconceptions and lack of knowledge. However, with the latest advancements in technology and an array of investigations available today in
fetal science, pregnancy has been made safer for both, the mother and the child.
It is prudent to understand the essentials to be followed in the different trimesters of pregnancy.
Regular doctor visits
Regular check-ups and routine visits to the obstetrician are significant in your pregnancy. Your obstetrician will evaluate all the essential details regarding your pregnancy and confirm whether it is a healthy one or inform you of any complications associated with it. Based on your case, your doctor will prescribe the required medicines and tests.
Blood tests
Here, emphasis will be laid on the presence of diabetes, hypertension and hereditary conditions. You will have to undergo few other blood tests like testing for haemoglobin, Rh typing, blood group, hepatitis B virus, human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), along with urine tests, checks for thyroid disorders and immunisation for tetanus.
Healthy nutrition plan
The new life growing within depends on you for everything. Therefore, you require a rich supply of proteins, vitamins, calcium and minerals. It is a good idea to start
taking folic acid from the beginning as this vitamin prevents you from having a baby with certain spinal defects. Besides this, a balanced and healthy diet should incorporate all essential nutrients like carbohydrates, fats, dairy products, fruit juices, proteins and green leafy vegetables rich in vitamins, iron and minerals, too.
Proper exercise
As pregnancy progresses, your sense of balance is challenged due to the changing posture. Exercise improves your balance and also boosts your energy levels. Exercise also relieves stress, muscle pain and backaches. It prepares your body for birth by strengthening and toning your muscles. In the crucial stages of pregnancy, it is important that you modify your regimen, but not give up completely.
Down Syndrome screening
Down Syndrome is a major cause of mental retardation in humans. It is caused by the presence of an extra Chromosome 21. The risk increases with the mother’s age. Therefore, women older than 30 should ideally undergo screening for Down Syndrome.
If required, testing for amniocentesis is done after 15 weeks of pregnancy. It helps in assessing whether the unborn baby has any serious health condition in the form of chromosomal or genetic abnormalities. Risks are higher in case of couples who have already had a baby with certain problems, family history of genetic problems, including some rare inherited diseases and the like.
Ultrasound scans are an indispensable obstetric tool in the care of every pregnant woman. Generally, there are three scans that are compulsory – NT scan, Anomaly or Morphology scan and Growth scan. NT scan is performed during 11-14 weeks of pregnancy and is useful to clarify whether the pregnancy is a healthy one or not, to diagnose multiple pregnancies and to calculate the expected delivery date.
Anomaly scan is done around the 20th week and is a detailed study of the unborn baby to exclude any physical abnormalities in the baby. Growth scan is performed around 34-36 weeks of pregnancy to evaluate the baby’s weight, fluid surrounding the baby and blood flow.
Apart from these, nowadays, 3D/4D scans are also cost-effective investigations as they offer detailed assessment of some fetal abnormalities like brain, face, spine and limb problems.
(The author is fetal medicine specialist, Navya Fetal Medicine Centre, Mysore)