Pregnancy Follow-Up

Pregnancy follow-up is very important for the health of the mother and the baby to be born.

Pregnancy follow-up starts from the moment the pregnancy is diagnosed and continues until after birth.

What is the purpose of pregnancy follow-up?

- Monitoring the general health status of mother and baby

- Early detection and prevention of risks and complications that may develop during pregnancy

- Necessary treatments are applied when necessary

- Physical and psychological support is provided to the expectant mother until the birth process

In follow-ups performed by the Gynecologist and Obstetrician:

- In the first examination, the gestational week is calculated according to the last menstrual date and ultrasonography, the general health status of the expectant mother is evaluated and the tests that should be requested in the first trimester of pregnancy are requested.

- It is important to measure the weight and blood pressure of the expectant mother at every examination. Excessive weight gain and high blood pressure pose a risk for both mother and baby. It is important to listen to the baby's heartbeat at every examination.

- Urine and blood tests, ultrasonography and other tests are ordered at regular intervals.

Tests

- Blood tests: Complete blood count, blood group determination, infection screening, thyroid function tests, double screening test, triple screening test, quadruple screening test, NIPT (fetal DNA analysis), sugar loading.

- Urinalysis: Urinalysis and urine culture check for conditions such as urinary tract infection and kidney disease.

- Four Dimensional Ultrasonography: The baby's development, size and health status are evaluated by ultrasonography.

- NST: The baby's heart rate and uterine contractions are evaluated

- Other tests: Tests such as amniocentesis, cordocentesis, chorionic villus biopsy can also be performed if necessary when the risk is found to be high in screening tests.

Frequency of pregnancy follow-up:

- The frequency of pregnancy follow-up varies according to the health status of the mother and baby.

- Generally, in the first 12 weeks, checks are performed every 2 weeks, between 12-32 weeks once a month, between 32-36 weeks once every 2 weeks, and between 36-40 weeks once a week. In pregnancies exceeding 40 weeks, it is necessary to evaluate the well-being of the baby every 2-3 days.

- In cases such as vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, feeling a decrease in the baby's movements, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

What should be considered during pregnancy follow-up?

- Expectant mothers should go to their doctor regularly.

- They should have all the tests requested.

- Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

- Avoid alcohol, smoking and drugs.

- Consult a doctor if they have any health problems.

Pregnancy follow-up is very important for the health of mother and baby. Regular medical check-ups and necessary tests will help you have a healthy pregnancy.

Remember that every pregnancy is different from each other.

Therefore, expectant mothers should never compare their pregnancies with others.