Antenatal Care

Maintaining Maternal Health

Regular antenatal check-ups are important for monitoring your health throughout pregnancy. These visits enable healthcare providers to detect and address potential health issues, which helps prevent complications and supports pregnancy and delivery.

Monitoring Foetal Growth

Antenatal care includes vital tests and screenings to track your baby’s development. This helps with the early identification of any issues or abnormalities, allowing for timely interventions to safeguard your baby’s health and well-being.

Preventing and Managing Risks

Antenatal care is crucial for identifying and addressing risk factors and potential complications during pregnancy. With consistent monitoring and proactive management, healthcare providers can minimise the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and other adverse outcomes, promoting a healthier pregnancy for both mother and baby.

1st Trimester: The Early Days of Pregnancy

• Early Development: The fertilised egg implants in the uterine lining, with rapid development from embryo to foetus, and 90% of anatomical structures forming by 11 weeks.
• Initial Ultrasound: A dating and viability ultrasound confirms your pregnancy’s location, estimates the due date, and checks for multiple pregnancies.
• Genetic Screening: Non-invasive blood tests, such as the OSCAR test and the Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT), screen for genetic conditions and chromosomal abnormalities.
• Early Consultation: At this stage, you can discuss genetic risks and early foetal development with your obstetrician to better understand your pregnancy.

2nd Trimester: Growth and Development

• Increased Foetal Activity: By 16 to 20 weeks, you’ll start feeling your baby’s movements, and by week 20, they respond to external sounds.
• 20-Week Scan: This scan detects structural abnormalities in the foetus, including in the brain, spine, limbs, and other organs, identifying 80-90% of potential issues.
• Gender Reveal: If you wish to learn your baby’s gender, the scan at this stage can reveal it.
• Ongoing Monitoring: Regular ultrasound scans track your baby’s growth and development throughout the second trimester.

3rd Trimester: Preparing for Birth

• Significant Growth: Your baby gains weight rapidly at this stage, accumulating fat and preparing for birth.
• Positioning: By weeks 30 to 34, most babies turn head-down. Ultrasound confirms the baby’s position and readiness for delivery.
• Full-Term Preparation: From week 37, the pregnancy is considered full-term. Regular checks will focus on weight gain, blood pressure, and screening for conditions like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes.
• Countdown to Delivery: Delivery can occur any time after 38 weeks, and ongoing antenatal visits are conducted to monitor progress and address any concerns.