What is prenatal care and why shouldn't it be overlooked?

• Prenatal care is the systematic monitoring of fetal development by an obstetrician from conception to the prenatal period, ensuring the safety of both mother and child.
• The benefits of prenatal care include close monitoring of fetal development, early screening for birth defects or genetic abnormalities, timely monitoring and treatment of maternal complications, and access to necessary vitamins and vaccines.
• The first prenatal visit should be made immediately upon confirmation of pregnancy, ideally within the first trimester or before 12 weeks of gestation. This allows for blood tests for disease screening and ensures timely intake of folic acid to support the baby's nervous system.
• Prenatal care is crucial and should not be neglected. It helps prevent harm and reduces the rates of miscarriage, premature birth, and stillbirth. Without prenatal care, risks cannot be assessed, and emergency complications can be life-threatening.

The moment you learn you're expecting, the health of both you and your unborn child becomes paramount. The best way to start caring for this new life is through prenatal care, which covers pregnancy health from the beginning until just before delivery. First-time mothers may worry about what to prepare for their first prenatal visit. If you're feeling anxious, this article will guide you through the process and provide advice to make preparation easy and safe for both mother and child.

What is Antenatal Care?

Antenatal care is the comprehensive healthcare provided by obstetricians and gynecologists to pregnant women and their unborn babies, from the moment pregnancy is confirmed until delivery. This process includes physical examinations, laboratory tests, and ultrasounds to assess health, monitor fetal development, and watch for potential abnormalities during pregnancy.

Benefits of Antenatal Care

• Helps monitor fetal growth and development to ensure it meets normal standards.
• Early screening and detection of fetal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, genetic disorders, or birth defects.
• Provides timely health assessments and treatment for complications such as gestational diabetes, anemia, or preeclampsia.
• Pregnant women receive necessary prenatal vitamins and vaccinations, such as tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccines, to build immunity for the baby.
• Receive accurate advice from doctors on nutrition, self-care, and preparing for childbirth.

Is Antenatal Care Necessary? Can I skip it?

Antenatal care is essential and should not be neglected. Early onset antenatal care helps prevent harm to the fetus, reduces the risk of miscarriage, and lowers other risks during pregnancy, such as premature birth and low birth weight. Or, intrauterine death (FAD).

If you don't receive prenatal care, you won't know your own health status or the baby's development. If an emergency complication occurs, the doctor won't have this basic information, which could delay treatment and be life-threatening for both mother and child.

When should the first prenatal visit be?

Pregnant women should see a doctor for prenatal care as early as possible, ideally within 3 months or 12 weeks of their last menstrual period. This confirms a healthy pregnancy and ensures the baby is healthy. It also allows the doctor to screen and assess the mother's health promptly for potential complications that could endanger the pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, anemia, and sexually transmitted infections, ensuring correct and safe treatment.

What are the consequences of delaying prenatal care?

• Missing the opportunity to take essential vitamins such as folic acid, which is necessary for the baby's nervous system and brain development in the first few months, increasing the risk of birth defects.
• Missing the crucial time for screening for chromosomal abnormalities and Down syndrome, which is usually performed between 11-14 weeks of gestation.
• If the mother has underlying complications such as ectopic pregnancy, high blood pressure, or gestational diabetes, she will not receive timely care, increasing the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, or even death for both mother and baby.

Specific timing for prenatal appointments

Generally, doctors schedule follow-up appointments to monitor the baby's development and the mother's health according to gestational age as follows

• First and second trimesters (1-28 weeks gestation) Doctors will schedule appointments every 4 weeks, or once a month, to monitor growth, screen for chromosomal abnormalities, and assess the mother's basic health.
• Early to mid-third trimester (28-36 weeks gestation) Doctors will schedule appointments every 2 weeks to monitor for complications that often occur in the later stages of pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes.
• Late third trimester (36 weeks gestation until delivery) Doctors will schedule appointments every 1 week to assess cervical readiness, check the baby's position and weight, amniotic fluid volume, placenta, and prepare for delivery.

Pregnancy Care How to Manage Your Weight

• Focus on a nutritious diet rich in protein, vegetables, and fruits to supplement vitamins and prevent constipation. Limit carbohydrates and fats to prevent weight gain, which can increase the risk of complications or difficult labor.
• Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep per night, including 15-30 minute afternoon naps. Engage in light exercise such as walking or light housework. Long-distance travel or working outside the home is acceptable if it doesn't cause excessive fatigue.
• Regular dental checkups and treatment are crucial, as teeth are more prone to decay during pregnancy. Fillings and extractions, at the dentist's discretion, are safe for the unborn baby.
• Shower at least twice a day, wear comfortable, loose clothing, and clean nipples with water and mild soap if fluid leaks.
• Regularly massage and gently pull on nipples, especially if they are short or inverted, to prepare for breastfeeding.
• Avoid spicy foods, tea, coffee, alcohol, and smoking.
• Do not self-medicate or douche. Avoid using any solutions or solutions.
• Avoid X-rays. Unless otherwise instructed or under the supervision of a doctor
• Sexual intercourse is generally allowed, but it should be avoided during the last month before delivery, or in cases of physical abnormalities such as vaginal bleeding, or when a doctor prohibits it.

How much does prenatal care cost?

The cost of each prenatal visit varies depending on the type of medical facility and the medical tests performed at each stage of pregnancy. The initial estimated price ranges from 500 to 4,000 baht, or some facilities may offer a comprehensive package for the entire pregnancy, approximately 15,000 to 30,000 baht.

The cost of one prenatal visit includes

• Doctor's fees and medical facility service fees.
• Laboratory tests such as urine and blood tests (often more expensive at the first prenatal visit involving a comprehensive blood test, including Down syndrome screening or NIPT in the first trimester).
• Ultrasound examinations to monitor fetal development (depending on the doctor's treatment plan).
• Medications and vitamins such as folic acid, iron, and calcium.
• Vaccinations for pregnant women such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, influenza, and RSV vaccines.

How to Start Your Prenatal Care at Vibhavadi Hospital

1. Contact the registration counter on the ground floor of Building 2.
2. Mothers will have their weight, height, blood pressure checked, and a urine test performed at each scheduled appointment.
3. A detailed medical history will be taken, including menstrual cycle information, morning sickness symptoms, fetal movements, past medical and childbirth history, family history of illnesses, and drug allergies, to aid in planning care and delivery.
4. For mothers with a gestational age of 20 weeks or more (5 months), a urine sample will be collected to test for sugar, protein, and blood in the urine to assess for preeclampsia.
5. An obstetrician will perform a thorough prenatal examination and physical examination, and calculate a rough estimated delivery date. Typically, actual delivery may occur 1-2 weeks before or after the estimated date.
6. Mothers will receive advice on how to manage their condition, be prescribed prenatal vitamins or other necessary medications as needed, and have follow-up appointments scheduled periodically.
7. Prenatal check-up schedules vary depending on gestational age. Under normal circumstances, doctors will schedule monthly check-ups from the start of prenatal care until 7 months of pregnancy. After that, appointments will be more frequent, every 2 weeks during months 7-8, and weekly in the final month before delivery. However, if complications arise, the doctor may schedule more frequent appointments.
8. After the examination is complete, the nurse will check the documents. Once approved, the documents will be given to the mother before contacting the finance department.

Prenatal care at Vibhavadi Hospital

For first-time mothers who are worried about where to receive prenatal care, you can consult with a specialist at Vibhavadi Hospital before deciding on your first prenatal visit. Here, we have expert doctors specializing in various fields and state-of-the-art medical equipment to help screen health from the beginning of pregnancy until delivery, ensuring the mother and baby are healthy and preventing potentially dangerous risks.

Summary

Prenatal care is the care of the mother and baby's health by obstetricians and gynecologists. It should begin as soon as pregnancy is confirmed and ideally within the first three months to screen for abnormalities, prevent harm, and reduce complications promptly. Doctors will schedule more frequent follow-up appointments as the pregnancy progresses, providing advice on protein, vegetables, and fruits, rest, and avoiding unprescribed drugs or medications.

The process at the hospital begins with an initial physical examination, taking a medical history, a pregnancy test, and prescribing nutritional supplements. Costs vary depending on the tests at each stage of pregnancy. If you would like to consult about prenatal care or planning for childbirth, you can contact Vibhavadi Hospital. Here, doctors are ready to provide comprehensive advice from the beginning of prenatal care to childbirth, including checking for various risk factors. To ensure a healthy and safe preparation for the arrival of a new member.