Antenatal and postnatal care are both critical to the health of the mother and child. The goal is to allow doctors to treat or prevent potential health problems throughout the course of pregnancy and to promote a healthy lifestyle that will benefit everyone.
Antenatal care is the routine healthcare of pregnant women in order to diagnose and manage any complicated obstetric conditions.
Routine antenatal testing includes:
- Regular measurement of weight and height
- Ultrasound scan
- Nuchal Translucency (NT) measurement
- Down syndrome screening blood test
- Blood pressure
- Blood group testing, RH factor, Iron
- Glucose tolerance test with 75 grams
- Cervical screening test
- Group B streptococcus at 36 weeks
- Thyroid gland checking
- Anomaly US scan
If you are pregnant, you should see your gynaecologist/obstetrician regularly throughout your pregnancy and more frequently during the third trimester, especially after 30 weeks.
One week after childbirth (postpartum period), your doctor will conduct check-ups for the mother and baby, and after six months, will check that the uterus is moving back into its original position.