Pregnancy is one of the most challenging yet the most beautiful phase of a woman's life. It is extremely important to take good care before, during and after pregnancy. Healthier dietary intakes and some lifestyle modifications during pregnancy have positive outcomes for both mother and baby.

Why is pregnancy care important?

The main goal of pregnancy care is to avoid the risks and complications associated with pregnancy and to ensure smooth delivery. However most pregnancies are normal and healthy, but there is still a substantial number of cases where serious complications can happen if women dont undergo prenatal care. Pregnancy care involves regular health checkups, which help in identifying any underlying health conditions of the mother like- diabetes, blood pressure and hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

The earlier any particular complication is caught, the more prepared you can be to alleviate the risks, for example, if a woman is diabetic or if diabetes is uncontrolled, then the baby could be larger than the usual babies, which may make vaginal birth harder and can also increase the risk for nerve injuries and other trauma during birth or in some cases it can also lead to stillbirth. The health issues that are detected early in prenatal care are genetic abnormalities, pre-eclampsia, and PCOS. Moreover, your dietary habits also play a significant role during pregnancy.

Best Healthcare Centre for Pregnancy Care

Before considering any healthcare centre, make sure that you and your baby are in expert hands. Choose Healthbox OPD for your pregnancy journey, we provide healthcare providers that are expert in assisting you throughout your pregnancy journey. Some additional benefits that  Healthbox OPD provides during pregnancy to make it smoother are-

• We provide expert and highly experienced gynaecologists who provide comprehensive care to women during the pregnancy journey. They guide you throughout your pregnancy journey to make it smoother and less complicated.
• Free pick and drop service on the day of delivery to make the commute easier.
• We provide a dedicated medical care coordinator who handles all the paperwork from hospitalization to discharge on the day of delivery.
• Free post-delivery follow-ups to check the mother’s physical and emotional well-being and review information about infant care and feeding.
• At  Healthbox OPD, we provide complete guidance from diagnostic tests to dietary modifications.
  
  Preconception and Prenatal Care

If you are planning for a baby, then consult your healthcare provider to get prepare for a safe and healthy pregnancy. Doctors usually suggest a few tests and check your medical history to understand your current health condition and can plan out a healthy pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will assist you and help you to figure out which steps you might need to take for a healthy pregnancy.

• Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol and or taking drugs.
• Increase your folic acid intake.
• Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
• Take care of your mental health. 
• Eat a healthy diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean proteins.

Prenatal care

Prenatal Care is comprehensive preventive healthcare for a pregnant woman during her course of pregnancy. Prenatal care is extremely important as it helps in identifying and treating potential health problems early. This helps to prevent complications during pregnancy. Prenatal care is not just regular checkups it includes counselling about various aspects of pregnancy. Prenatal care has played a significant role in reducing the frequency of maternal death, birth defect and lower birth weight. According to World Health Organization, every woman should undergo four antenatal visits to identify and treat problems and give immunizations. However, prenatal care varies from trimester to trimester as the baby grows- 

The first trimester of pregnancy

Routine prenatal visit 

During your first visit, the doctor will ask about your medical history and suggest a few tests to measure your- blood pressure and sugar level, weight, urine test and blood test etc. It is extremely important to discuss your lifestyle and eating habits with your doctor to avoid any further risks.

Changes in a woman’s body during the first trimester

The first trimester is from week 1 to week 13, it’s just the beginning of the pregnancy thus, women experience several changes physically and mentally during the first trimester.

• Tender breasts
• Nausea and vomiting
• Cravings and aversions
• Heightened sense of smell
• Weight gain 
• Constipation and upset stomach
• Mood swings

 Personal health measures

Apart from regular checkups, it’s extremely important to take some personal health measures to avoid any risks during pregnancy.                          

• Take prenatal vitamins
• Stay hydrated 
• Enrich your diet with fruits, vegetables and fibre.
• Take an adequate amount of calories
• Exercise regularly

Things to avoid during the first trimester

Here is a list of certain things you must avoid during the first trimester of pregnancy.

• Avoid caffeine
• Avoid nitrate-rich foods
• Avoid canned and junk foods
• Avoid unpasteurized milk and other dairy products
• Avoid strenuous exercise or strength training

The second trimester of pregnancy

 Changes in a woman’s body during the second trimester

• Growing belly and breast
• Some swelling in your feet, hands and ankles
• The uterus expands to make space for the baby
• Skin stretch around your belly and your breasts
• Leg cramps
• Dizziness and dental issues

Things to avoid in the second trimester

• Dont take any medication without consulting your doctor
• Avoid wearing high heels.
• Avoid unpasteurized dairy and juices.

Prenatal visit       

Level 2 ultrasounds are usually performed to examine the anatomy of the baby and confirm that baby is developing normally. Doctors check the blood pressure and weight and listen to the baby’s heartbeat. Doctor also checks your baby’s growth by measuring the size of your abdomen.                  

The third trimester of pregnancy,

The third trimester of pregnancy is quite challenging physically and emotionally.

 Changes in a woman’s body during the second trimester  

• Braxton hicks contraction
• Backaches
• Frequent urination 
• Shortness of breath
• Legs swelling and cramps

Things to avoid during the third trimester of pregnancy

•  Avoid lifting anything that feels even a little too heavy
• Travelling or sitting for an extended period
• As the baby is pretty low in your belly, digestion may be a bit difficult.
• Avoid flying or travelling to places with high altitudes, as it causes your baby to become deprived of oxygen.
• Avoid heavy exercises, and consult your doctor about your exercise routine, especially if you are already suffering from an existing medical condition.
• Avoid cleaning out cat litter or handling raw meat.

Foods to eat during your third trimester

• Eat iron-rich food like wheat bran, beans and eggs.
• Eat protein-rich food like tofu and legumes as it helps in forming the baby’s body.
• Eat food rich in DHA, which helps in developing the baby’s brain 
• Consuming folic-rich food ensures proper fetal growth and lowers the risk of a lower birth rate for the baby.
  
  Diagnosis and regular medical tests during pregnancy

Diagnostic tests during pregnancy-

Your healthcare provider may recommend a variety of screening tests and other diagnostic tests to determine certain abnormalities, including certain hereditary or spontaneous genetic disorders-

• Screening of chromosomal abnormalities- This test usually measures the markers that can help estimate the risk of down’s syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. If women had screening tests in the first trimester, then it may not require.
• Ultrasonography- It is usually performed to check for abnormalities in the fetus when a pregnant woman has an abnormal result on a prenatal blood test. Ultrasonography can do the following-
• To determine the due date 
• Examine the placental structure 
• Examine blood flow patterns
• Observe fetal behaviour and activity
• To monitor fetal growth

Two types of ultrasound are performed during pregnancy.

• Abdominal ultrasound- The doctor applies the gel to your abdomen, then the ultrasound transducer glides over the gel on the abdomen to create the image.
• Transvaginal ultrasound- In this procedure, a small ultrasound transducer is inserted into the vagina to create an image. It gives a sharper image than ultrasound.
• Chorionic villus sampling- In this sampling, the doctor takes a small sample of chorionic villi. This procedure is usually performed to diagnose some disorders in the fetus, usually between 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
• Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling- In this procedure doctor first anaesthetizes an area of skin over the abdomen. After that doctor inserts the needle through the abdominal wall and uterus into the umbilical cord. This test is used to analyze the rapid chromosome analysis. Doctors recommend this test when they suspect the fetus has anaemia. 
• Amniocentesis-  Doctors prescribe this test to diagnose the chromosomal disorder and open neural tube defects such as spina bifida. It is usually performed between the 15th to 20th week of pregnancy. This test involves inserting a long thin needle into the amniotic sac to withdraw a sample of amniotic fluid. This amniotic fluid surrounds the fetus. This test more reliably indicates the whether the fetus has a brain or spinal cord defect.
• Fetal monitoring- It is usually performed during late pregnancy and labour it is performed to monitor the fetal heart rate and other functions. The average fetal heart rate is between 120-160 beats per minute. This procedure is performed by inserting an electrode through the dilated cervix and attaching the electrode through the dilated cervix and attaching the electrode into the scalp of the fetus. 
• Genetic screening- It involves assessing the couple’s family history and analysis of blood or tissue samples.