While pregnancy is a joyful time for mothers-to-be, there are some responsibilities to be taken care of. And one of those is antenatal treatment. So the moment your doctor tells you that you are pregnant, your responsibilities towards your baby’s care begins. 

Appointments with your Gynecologist

The first would be to schedule appointments with your Gynaecologist as part of antenatal care. Fulfil your appointments with your Gynecology doctor to ensure the health of your baby and you. 

You would also be able to meet with other caregivers in the healthcare team during these visits. The main reason why antenatal treatment or prenatal treatment should be done is to identify any potential risks that comes with the pregnancy. It doesn’t matter if you are feeling healthy and well during your pregnancy period, these appointments must be fulfilled. Make use of these appointments to ask questions regarding your pregnancy to your Gynaecologist, including health and nutrition during the first trimester, exercises, care for the mother and so on. 

What happens during these visits?

Constant monitoring of your health and your baby’s status would help prevent stillbirths and pregnancy related health complications. A pregnant woman’s visit with her Gynaecologist would be more than a visit because the doctor would provide the wholesome support and guidance she needs during this time. 

According to the new model of treatment, there would be maternal and fetal assessments to detect complications. When a woman maintains the regular appointments according to schedule, she increases the likelihood of a positive pregnancy outcome. The number of visits would be dependant on the health of the child and the mother, but the first visit should ideally be in the first 12 weeks of gestation, followed by visits in the 20, 26, 30, 34 weeks. 

During your appointment with the doctor, your urine and blood samples would be collected. Though this is mandatory for the first visit, your doctor might suggest it for later visits, depending on the mother’s health. Urine tests would be to check for bacteria, while blood tests would be to check for diabetes, to analyse iron levels and check for indications for infectious diseases like hepatitis, HIV and syphilis. The protein levels would also be analysed because high levels lead to high blood pressure during pregnancy. 

Some doctors would contain certain other physical tests like

• Pelvic test to understand the size and shape of your uterus
• Pap smear to rule out cervical cancer
• Ultrasound to analyse your baby’s growth and position

Your body weight during pregnancy

If you are underweight, you need to gain about 28 to 40 pounds during the entire pregnancy period. If you tend to be on the heavy side, then you need to gain only about 15 to 25 pounds. Generally, women gain about 2-4 pounds in the first trimester followed by a pound a week during the rest of the months. 

Your diet

The most commonly asked question when you are pregnant. Eat a balanced diet, keep a good mental health, hydrate frequently and exercise regularly. Include meat (for proteins), eggs, milk, fruits and vegetables in your diet. Moderate consumption of sugar would keep your weight regulated. And if you are a coffee/tea drinker, keep that down to 1 to 2 cups a day as well.  These are what your Gynaecologist would be telling you. 

When you need emergency care?

Pregnant women must receive emergency care if they have the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Dizziness
• Pain in the chest
• Vaginal bleeding
• Signs of pre-term labor 
• Symptoms of shock
• Loss of consciousness

It is always advisable to have your Gynecologist’s numbers handy when you are pregnant. Share these numbers with your family members so they can call your doctor immediately when you need help. To get good and timely care, you must visit a reliable hospital like Naseem Medical Centre, where emergency care in Doha is possible.