Precautions for prenatal examination
Release time : 01/18/2025 18:13:27
Prenatal examinations are an essential aspect of prenatal care for expectant mothers.
Prenatal check-ups may seem simple on the surface, but in reality, they are quite arduous. This is because there are numerous considerations for prenatal checks. Let's start by discussing the benefits and necessity of prenatal examinations from aspects such as the types of examinations and costs, schedules, etc. This will help all expectant mothers who still harbor doubts about childbirth to understand the advantages of prenatal checks.
Prenatal check-ups can be considered a protective layer for the child and the mother. This is because they ensure that the health of both the child and the mother is better safeguarded.
In fact, many times, if there are any abnormalities between the mother and the fetus, they can be detected through prenatal examinations. Prenatal check-ups can effectively reduce adverse effects during childbirth.
However, there are still some issues that need to be taken into account during prenatal examinations. Let us discuss these matters briefly.
1. It is essential for expectant mothers to be aware of their blood type, as often pregnant women are not fully aware of their own blood types, which can pose a potential risk to the fetus.
Therefore, it is best to understand one's blood type before the production process. If one is of the "Panda Blood Group," it is also necessary to have blood prepared at the hospital, to avoid accidents during the production process and prevent inability to timely transfuse.
2. Prenatal Examination Frequency: The frequency of prenatal examinations for pregnant women is not fixed; instead, it should be determined based on the health history of the pregnant woman, whether any complications occur during the pregnancy, and whether there are any pregnancy-related diseases.
Prior to 28 weeks of pregnancy, it is recommended to undergo monthly prenatal checkups; between 28 and 36 weeks, weekly prenatal checkups are required; after 36 weeks, every two weeks. The frequency of prenatal examinations can vary based on a woman's health condition, but this period also allows for preparation for selecting the type of delivery method.
3. The purpose of a prenatal examination is to observe whether the pregnancy process is proceeding smoothly. During these checks, pregnant women can also ask their doctors about any concerns they may have. Although prenatal check-ups primarily involve routine examinations related to the pregnancy, the actual health of the baby is greatly influenced by the mother's emotional state during this time. Therefore, maintaining an optimistic mood during pregnancy is also very beneficial for the baby.
Prenatal check-ups are quite extensive, and the variety of items checked during each stage of pregnancy varies according to the length of the expected gestation. The cost of these checks also varies slightly depending on the hospital. In fact, prenatal examinations primarily involve detailed medical history taking, dating the estimated due date, a general physical examination, and obstetrical evaluation. These aspects can be considered the primary components of the prenatal check-up. Let us explore some key elements of prenatal care from these areas.
Prenatal examinations typically include aspects such as age, parity, occupation, menstrual history, and understanding the onset age of puberty and menstrual cycle. The scope of examinations generally revolves around these aspects. For pregnant women who have previously given birth, it is also necessary to understand their past medical history. Among these examinations, not only are comprehensive health assessments conducted for both the pregnant woman herself and her husband, but it is also important to know about any family members who have had significant illnesses or conditions in the past.
Pregnancy estimations, too, follow a certain algorithm. Generally speaking, you can calculate the estimated due date by subtracting 3 or adding 9 from the number of the month starting from the first day of your last menstrual period, and then adding 7 days.
If the last menstrual period was on March 5th, the estimated due date would be December 12th.
It is important to note that pregnant women with irregular menstruation cannot mechanically use this method to determine their estimated due date, as the ovulation time is abnormal. However, a more precise algorithm still requires determination based on early pregnancy symptoms such as the onset of nausea, the first signs of fetal movement, and the height of the uterus.
A comprehensive physical examination is even more thorough to gain a comprehensive understanding of the mother's health condition. This includes checking height and weight, as well as BMI, blood pressure, oral cavity, and cardiopulmonary system, among other aspects. We will monitor for any adverse reactions during this process.
Obstetric examinations primarily focus on assessing the fetus's health and the vaginal health of the mother.
The checklist for pregnant women's prenatal examinations actually varies depending on the duration of pregnancy. Generally, there are not just one or two checks that need to be done during pregnancy.
Based on the health status of the pregnant woman, multiple prenatal examinations are likely to be required, possibly even ten times or more. Depending on the gestational period, different items need to be examined. Generally, a first prenatal check-up should be conducted within the first three months of pregnancy, as the fetus is not yet stable at this time. During the 13th to 27th week, checks should be made every four weeks; from the 28th to 35th week, checks should be made every two weeks; from the 36th to the time before delivery, checks should be made every week.
And these time periods have different prenatal examinations.
1. Generally speaking, one should undergo the first prenatal check-up around 12 weeks (approximately three months) into the pregnancy. At this stage, the fetus is relatively stable, and the examination usually includes weight measurement and blood pressure checks, Doppler ultrasound, and urine testing. The doctor will conduct a brief interview to understand the pre-pregnancy health status for reference purposes, as well as perform other physical examinations, including blood tests to measure the size of the uterus and screening for the fetal neck translucency.
2. Between 13 to 16 weeks of pregnancy, it is primarily for Down syndrome screening. This can be considered as the second prenatal check-up for expectant mothers. Afterwards, every expectant mother must undergo basic routine checks including: weighing and measuring blood pressure, urine tests, measuring uterine height and abdominal circumference, a consultation, and listening to fetal heart sounds.
3. The 17th to 20th week is primarily dedicated to routine check-ups. In fact, during this period, it is possible to determine the fetus's gender through ultrasound. Generally speaking, false contractions will appear after the 20th week, but most of them will subside within 30 minutes. However, with the increase in pregnancy weeks, the frequency of these occurrences tends to rise.
4. During the 21st to 24th week of pregnancy, the primary focus is on screening for gestational diabetes mellitus. This is because, in many cases, most gestational diabetes occurs during this period. Unlike regular diabetes screening, which requires abstaining from sugar beforehand, during the gestational diabetes screening, the hospital usually asks pregnant women to drink 50 grams of glucose water, and then conduct blood tests one hour later.
5. At the 25th to 28th week of pregnancy, the fifth prenatal checkup is conducted, primarily focusing on screening for hepatitis B antigen, syphilis serum test, and German measles. The most important aspect of this stage is the blood test for hepatitis B in the expecting mother, which aims to determine whether she is carrier or has been infected with hepatitis B. If both tests for hepatitis B in the expecting mother are positive,
It is necessary to let pediatricians administer vaccines to the newborn within 24 hours after the mother gives birth, so as not to allow the newborn to suffer from infection.
Additionally, it is necessary to confirm the previous syphilis reaction of the expecting mother in order to thoroughly treat syphilis before the fetus is born.
6 and 29-32 weeks, the examination showed symptoms such as lower limb edema and preeclampsia, and premature delivery should be prevented.
Generally, after 28 weeks of pregnancy, doctors will check the pregnant woman for edema and preeclampsia, so that pregnant women can avoid these troubles while waiting for labor.
7. Weeks 33-35, the seventh prenatal examination ultrasound (B-ultrasound) examination and fetal weight assessment. From 30 weeks onwards, prenatal check-ups for pregnant women are conducted every two weeks.
At 34 weeks of pregnancy, expectant mothers are advised to undergo a detailed ultrasound examination to assess the weight and development of the fetus at that time, and to estimate the weight of the fetus at full term delivery.
At 8 and 36 weeks, the eighth prenatal check-up was performed to prepare for childbirth matters. During this period, the number of sexual intercourse was reduced and sexual posture was also paid attention to.
Starting at 36 weeks, checkups are conducted once a week and fetal monitoring is performed every time. I started to prepare some things for production, because at this time it could be said that I had entered the production countdown stage.
At 37 weeks pregnant, the ninth prenatal check-up, pay attention to fetal movement.
At the 9th and 38-42 weeks, the tenth prenatal check-up, the fetal position was fixed and the fetal head was lowered, ready for production and considered for birth.
Starting from 38 weeks, the fetal position begins to be fixed, the fetal head has come down and is stuck in the pelvic cavity. At this time, the expectant mother should be prepared to give birth at any time.
Some expectant mothers still have no signs of giving birth after 42 weeks, so they should consider asking a doctor to use oxytocin.
The benefits of prenatal check-ups, prenatal check-ups mainly refer to providing a series of medical and nursing advice and measures for pregnant women. In fact, prenatal check-ups can protect the health of pregnant women and the fetus.
The purpose of prenatal examinations is to prevent and detect complications early and reduce their adverse effects through monitoring pregnant women and fetuses. In fact, many diseases related to the fetus and pregnant women can be detected during prenatal examinations and treated in a timely manner. The health status of the fetus can also be observed through prenatal examinations, and providing correct examination methods and medical advice during this period is the key to reducing maternal mortality and perinatal mortality.
Therefore, it is actually necessary for pregnant women to undergo prenatal examinations, because it can greatly ensure the health of the pregnant woman and the fetus.
Misconceptions about Prenatal Examinations We all know the many benefits of prenatal examinations. However, there are common misconceptions regarding these procedures. The most prevalent ones include the notion that early pregnancy does not require hospital visits for check-ups, that prenatal screening can exclude all birth defects, and that the number and interval of prenatal examinations are arbitrary.
Many new parents are not concerned with prenatal care during the early stages of pregnancy. Often, they simply discover their pregnancy through a home pregnancy test and do not undergo further examination until later stages. However, it is actually important to undergo medical check-ups during the early stages of pregnancy.
Many women in our country believe that undergoing gynecological examinations can cause miscarriage and thus refuse to undergo them. However, this is not the case. Gynecological examinations are indeed important in prenatal care, as they effectively detect infections in the reproductive tract, polyps, cervical malignancies, and pelvic abnormalities.
Many new parents have high expectations for prenatal screenings, believing that they can effectively identify all birth defects in the fetus. However, this is a misconception, as prenatal screenings and ultrasounds are not entirely foolproof.
Prenatal examinations and ultrasounds are only capable of ruling out certain conditions in the fetus, but they cannot eliminate minor illnesses.
There is also the problem of arbitrary number and interval of prenatal examinations. In fact, the number and interval of prenatal examinations are regular, and the items examined at different time periods are also different. Therefore, it is wrong to simply think that the number and interval of prenatal examinations are arbitrary.
The medical part covered in this article is for reading and reference only.
If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical treatment immediately, based on offline face-to-face diagnosis, medical diagnosis and treatment.