Caring for Me and My Unborn Child

18:45 23rd July 2019 | Antenatal

Congratulations, you are pregnant!

You are filled with overwhelming joy as the bundle of joy in you grows each day. But beyond your positive pregnancy test and initial excitement, it hits you – “what’s next?”. What steps are you taking to ensure your safety and that of your baby?”

While you observe some of changes externally, here’s a glimpse of what happens with your baby during the developmental stages up till birth. Also, it is very important to know what to expect during each antenatal check-up with your trusted healthcare provider.

Month 1: A face will take form with large dark circles for eyes. The mouth, lower jaw, and throat are developing. (About 1/4 inch long, the size of a tiger nut).

Care Plan: By this time you would have missed a period and will need to undergo a test to confirm pregnancy.

General Antenatal care schedule:

• Regular monthly, fortnightly and weekly scheduled visits

• Antenatal classes

• Food hygiene advice, right diet, including how to reduce the risk of a food acquired infection

• Lifestyle advice, including drug use and safety in pregnancy, smoking cessation, and the implications of recreational drug use and alcohol consumption in pregnancy

• Prenatal screening

• Prenatal Vaccination

Month 2: Your baby's facial features continue to develop. Each ear begins as a little fold of skin at the side of the head. Tiny buds that eventually grow into arms and legs are forming. Heartbeat detection by transvaginal scan at 7 weeks and by abdominal scan 8 weeks. (About 1 inch long, the size of a cherry)

Care Plan: From now until the end of your second trimester, you should visit your doctor monthly

• Carry out a scan to confirm the fetal heartbeat.

• Run urine and blood tests to check for certain conditions that could affect your pregnancy

• Measure your height and weight

• Check your blood pressure.

Month 3: Your baby's arms, hands, fingers, feet, and toes are fully formed. Your baby can open and close its fists and mouth. Fingernails and toenails are beginning to develop and the external ears are formed. (About 4 inches long, the size of a plum)

Care Plan: This month’s medical visit will not be as involved as last month’s.

• Weight measurement

• Blood pressure check

• Growth of the uterus

• Urine tests

• Conduct a general physical examination

• Nuchal translucency measurement test (optional). This test is usually done at 11 to 14 weeks of pregnancy to determine the risk that the baby has a chromosomal abnormality

• First trimester combined screening (weeks 11 to 13)

Month 4: Your baby's heartbeat may now be audible through an instrument called a doppler. The fingers and toes are well-defined. Teeth and bones become denser. Your baby can even suck his or her thumb, yawn, stretch, and make faces. (About 6 inches long, the size of a pear)

Care Plan: This month’s medical visit will be similar to last month’s.

• Weight measurement

• Blood pressure check

• Height of the top of your uterus, called the fundus

• Urine tests for sugar and protein

• Fetal heartbeat

• Any signs of swelling in the ankles or feet (pedal oedema), especially if accompanied by headaches, visual changes, or abdominal pain which could be signs of pregnancy-induced hypertension

• Vaccination Schedule I - Intermittent prevention of Malaria with Sulphadoxine Pyrimentamine (tell your health care provider about any allergies) and Tetanus Toxoid injection

• Anomaly Scan is offered in weeks 18 to 20 to check for any significant abnormalities

• Second-trimester screening (14+0 wks. - 18+ 6wks)

Month 5: You may begin to feel your baby move since he or she is developing muscles and exercising them. This first movement is called quickening. (About 10 inches long, the size of a grapefruit)

Care Plan:

• Weight measurement

• Blood pressure check

• Urine tests

• Fetal heartbeat

• Height of fundus

• Check for Pedal Oedema

• Vaccination Schedule II

Month 6: Your baby's skin is reddish in colour, wrinkled, and veins are visible through the baby's translucent skin. Baby's finger and toe prints are visible. The eyelids begin to part and the eyes open. (About 12 inches long, the size of papaya)

Care Plan:

• Weight measurement

• Blood pressure check

• Urine tests

• Fetal heartbeat

• Height of fundus

• Position of the baby

• Check for Pedal Oedema

• 2Hr-75 Gram OGTT test for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy (as early as 13 weeks if you are high risk).

Month 7: He or she changes position frequently and responds to stimuli, including sound, pain, and light. (About 14 inches long, the size of a pineapple)

Care Plan:

• Weight measurement

• Blood pressure check

• Urine test

• Fetal heartbeat

• Height of the top of your uterus, called the fundus

• Size and position of the fetus

• Check for Pedal Oedema

If you are Rh-negative, your health-care provider may wish to give you an injection of Rho (D) immune globulin this month, to prevent complications.

Now is a good time to talk about your delivery plans with your health-care provider.

Month 8: Your baby will continue to mature and develop reserves of body fat. Most internal systems are well developed, but the lungs may still be immature. (About 18 inches long, the size of a golden melon)

This month will see you rounding up your care at the medical facility. You will see your health-care provider once every two weeks until your referral.

At this point, the nurse/midwife will also talk to you about;

• Your birth plan

• How to prepare for labour

• How to recognize the onset of active labour

• Ways of coping with pain in labour

• Post-natal self-care

• Breastfeeding

• Newborn and Infant Care

• Baby blues / post-partum depression

• Travel plan care (compression stocking, mobility, fluid intake and regular meals)

Care Plan:

• Weight measurement

• Blood pressure check

• Urine tests

• Fetal heartbeat

• Height of the top of your uterus, called the fundus

• Check for Pedal Oedema

• An ultrasound between weeks 32 to 34 of pregnancy to make sure that the baby is growing normally.

• A complete blood count test

• Referral letter/ summary of your antenatal records to be collated for transmission to your delivery facility

• Fitness to fly documentation (if required)

Month 9: Your baby's reflexes are coordinated so he or she can blink, close the eyes, turn the head, grasp firmly, and respond to sounds, light, and touch. Baby is definitely ready to enter the world! (About 18 to 20 inches long, the size of a watermelon)

This month, you will have a medical visit once each week. At this point, you should be with the healthcare provider at your planned delivery facility.

Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323742.php

During the course of this life-changing journey, having a trusted medical professional support and care for you and your baby’s health during pregnancy and after labour would be invaluable. Our antenatal package avails you this benefit and others through;

• Consultations,

• Essential medications,

• Prenatal screening tests

• Basic vaccinations

• Engaging preparatory mommy and baby classes with light refreshments

We also provide a complete vaccination plan after the birth of your baby.

Speak to us at Bridge Clinic Medical Centre about your antenatal care and classes, your baby’s nutrition and protection through vaccinations.

Protecting yourself and your unborn child starts here. Register for your antenatal care today.

For enquiries, contact your trusted medical centre today.

Email: enquiries@thebridgeclinic.com

Call: 01 631 0092 / Whatsapp: +234 (0)810 460 7791.

Visit: 66 Oduduwa Way, Ikeja GRA