Pregnancy Care

Prenatal care is the term used for the care taken before birth. Postpartum care is the term used for the care taken after the birth of a child.

Prenatal care:

• It is the care taken before the birth of a baby. 
• It involves ensuring good nutrition and other health habits before and during pregnancy.
• Good prenatal care ensures that the baby grows and develops properly and also involves keeping the mother and the unborn child healthy. 
• You should talk to your healthcare provider before you plan a pregnancy.

Diagnosis

The following diagnostic tests are recommended during prenatal care visits to check how the baby is developing and if there are any problems associated with the pregnancy. The different diagnostic tests include:

1. Blood tests: A blood test helps in checking the presence of the hormone HCG, which confirms pregnancy. Blood tests also enable checking the blood group of the mother and if there is a presence of any underlying illness like anemia (low red blood cell count).
2. Ultrasound: Sound waves are used in this test to create pictures of the growing baby. The growth and development of the baby and the expected due date can be determined using this test.
3. Fetal echocardiography: The condition of the heart of the baby can be checked using this test.
4. Glucose test: Gestational (pregnancy) diabetes can be detected using this test.
5. Amniocentesis: Genetic problems and birth defects in the baby can be checked using this test.
6. Nuchal translucency test: This test helps in checking any problems in the genes of the baby.
7. Tests to check for STDs (sexually transmitted diseases)

 

Treatment

• A woman should ideally visit her gynecologist at least three months prior to planning a pregnancy.
• After the woman becomes pregnant, she needs to go for follow-ups with the doctor as per the following schedule:
• Every month during the first six months of pregnancy
• Every two weeks during the seventh and eighth month of pregnancy
• Every week during the last month of pregnancy

The woman may need more frequent visits if she is detected with a complicated or high-risk pregnancy.

The doctor will check the health of the mother and the unborn baby and conduct a few tests during each visit. The doctor will do the following during each prenatal visit:

1. Weight gain measurement
2. Blood pressure monitoring 
3. Discussing the diet and exercise regime of the woman
4. Prescribing iron, folic acid, and vitamin supplements 
5. Performing routine blood tests and other diagnostic screening tests
6. Monitoring the baby’s growth
7. Monitoring the unborn baby’s heart rate

Risks

Emergency during pregnancy:

1. Contact your gynecologist immediately in the following situations during pregnancy:
2. Exposure to toxic substances or chemicals 
3. Radiation exposure 
4. Exposure to a suspected sexually transmitted infection
5. Fever
6. Chills
7. Painful urination 
8. Severe pain in the abdomen
9. Bleeding from the vagina
10. Injury
11. Emotional trauma
12. Suspected medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or thyroid disorders
13. Reduced or stopped baby movements 
14. If the water breaks

After Procedure

Instructions to follow during prenatal care:

1. A woman who is planning a pregnancy needs to do the following things to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy:
2. Quit smoking
3. Avoid alcohol consumption 
4. Take the recommended dose of folic acid supplements daily 
5. Limit caffeine intake
6. Avoid exposure to toxic substances and chemicals 
7. Inform your healthcare provider about any medications or supplements that you may be taking

Benefits of prenatal pregnancy care:

1. Good prenatal care can have the following benefits:
2. Reduces risk during pregnancy
3. Increases the possibility of a safe and healthy delivery 
4. Monitoring the progress during pregnancy 
5. Identification of complications during the early stages of pregnancy 
6. Ensuring proper growth and development of the unborn baby

Post-partum care:

Postpartum care is the care given to the mother and the baby for six to eight weeks after delivery.
This is a vital period for the mother, who will undergo emotional and physical changes while still learning how to take care of the newborn baby.

Procedure and instructions during post-partum care:

• The mother and baby can usually go home from the hospital one to two days after a normal vaginal delivery.
• The mother and baby can usually go home from the hospital two to three days after cesarean delivery.

The following instructions should be followed after delivery:

1. Get sufficient rest: 

• New mothers need to get a lot of rest post-delivery. This enables the mother to rebuild her physical and emotional strength. 
• In the first few weeks after delivery, the mother should sleep while the baby sleeps.
• The baby’s crib can be kept near the mother’s bed to make nighttime feedings easier.
• The mother can let someone else feed the baby with a bottle while the mother takes some rest.

2. Eat well: 

• The mother should eat a well-balanced and healthy diet, drink lots of fluids, and avoid high-fat foods.
• It is vital for breastfeeding mothers to get sufficient nutrition for themselves, as well as the baby.

3. Vaginal care:

• A woman will have some vaginal soreness, vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding, urination problems, and vaginal contractions for some days or weeks after delivery.
• The woman should get a post-partum check-up with her gynecologist about six weeks after delivery. 
• Sexual intercourse should be avoided for four to six weeks after delivery till the vagina heals completely.

Cost of Pregnancy care in India- 

The cost of pregnancy care in Mumbai is between INR 30,000 to INR 3,00,000.

The cost of pregnancy care in Delhi is between INR 25,000 to INR 2,75,000.

The cost of pregnancy care in Bangalore is between INR 25,000 to INR 2,75,000.

The cost of pregnancy care in Chennai is between INR 22,000 to INR 2,50,000.