During this time, the state and course of pregnancy should be regularly monitored, depending on whether it is a physiological or high-risk pregnancy. Both types require comprehensive prenatal diagnostics, cooperation of an interdisciplinary team, qualified medical care (endocrinologist, diabetologist, cardiologist, hematologist, allergist, dermatologist, psychologist).
Conducting physiological and high-risk pregnancy
A physiological pregnancy is one in which the risk to the mother and the baby remains at a constant low level throughout its duration, the puerperium and delivery. Most pregnancies are physiological pregnancies. In other cases, the pregnancy is classified as a high-risk pregnancy and requires a specialized, individual approach.
A high-risk pregnancy is a pregnancy in which there are many factors that increase the likelihood of miscarriage, premature birth, unborn disease and even death. Factors that make a pregnancy a high-risk pregnancy are some chronic diseases, hypertension, and pregnancy over 35 years of age. Pregnancy may become a high-risk pregnancy also during pregnancy if a healthy woman develops a medical condition that threatens the course of pregnancy and the health of the mother and child.
So, if you are planning to get pregnant or are already a happy mother, this is where one of the most magical periods of your life begins. For a wonderful time of pregnancy, you need to prepare for it. For this purpose, it is worth taking advantage of the offer of pregnancy management by specialized doctors who will answer every question, perform the necessary tests and provide proper care for the mother and the baby – from the first visit to the clinic until the happy delivery.
Conducting a pregnancy in Poland, is it worth it?
Indications
Being a conscious mom does not start at conception. Preparation for pregnancy should begin 6 months before the planned conception. Then you have enough time to do the necessary tests, and if it turns out to be necessary – to conduct a treatment, after which the body has time to cleanse the remnants of drugs and return to form. If symptoms and a pregnancy test indicate pregnancy, the woman should undergo her first obstetric consultation. A good time to see the doctor who will be looking after your pregnancy is between the 6th and 8th weeks of pregnancy. The next visits are every 3 – 4 weeks. Besides, if you want to:
- Have regular control over the baby’s health,
- Detect possible diseases of the child at an early stage, which enables appropriate intervention,
- Provide yourself with comfort and peace throughout your pregnancy,
And you also care about safety during the course of the entire pregnancy, conducting a physiological and high-risk pregnancy by a qualified doctor is an excellent solution that will help prevent any problem!
The procedure
In the case of a planned pregnancy, it is worth planning the first visit before trying to get pregnant. A gynecologist-obstetrician will answer the necessary questions related to the waiting pregnancy, will order appropriate supplementation, including folic acid preparations, will analyze the current state of health and, if necessary, commission the necessary specialist consultations.
The schedule of visits is set individually, but if there are no contraindications, it is carried out in a standard way. The first maternity visit takes place during the first trimester of pregnancy (5-12 weeks). Its course depends on how much time has passed since the last menstruation and whether the pregnancy status can already be ascertained. The first visit should take place between the 6th and 8th week of pregnancy. It usually includes a gynecological examination and initial ultrasound in which an attempt is made to confirm the presence of a gestational sac or embryo, to determine the fetal heart rate, confirm the correct implantation of the embryo in the uterine cavity, and to determine the age of pregnancy with the expected date of delivery. During the confirmation of pregnancy, the doctor orders the patient to carry out tests – blood count, general urine test, VDRL, immune antibodies and fasting blood levels. The midwife measures the pregnant woman’s blood pressure and body weight, which will be checked on a regular basis from now on. Other tests performed during this period include tests that enable the detection of a possible serological conflict, vaginal biocenosis, tests for antibodies against specific viruses, tests for the presence of HIV, bacteriological tests of urine.
At the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, between 11 and 13 weeks of pregnancy, an assessment of the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus is made. The doctor performs a specialized ultrasound examination of the pregnant woman to screen the fetus for chromosomal aberrations. The specialist also assesses the anatomy of the fetus, neck translucency and cardiac function. At the same time, a double PAPP-A + βHCG test is carried out for genetically determined fetal defects. In combination with the results of the ultrasound examination, it is an integrated prenatal screening test in the first trimester and gives a picture of the genetic situation of the fetus.
The second trimester of pregnancy (14 – 26 weeks) includes visits between 15 and 20 weeks. During this time, the patient should perform a blood count, a general urine test, consult the level of anti-Rh antibodies in the blood. Between the 18th and 22nd week, the ultrasound assessment of the pregnancy development is also assessed. This allows for the assessment of the anatomy of the fetus, i.e. its organs, in terms of the presence of congenital abnormalities. Fetal heart screening tests are also performed to assess the correctness of the location, size, structure and function of the heart. From then on, the fetal heart function is checked regularly. The doctor also assesses the position and function of the placenta and the volume of amniotic fluid. During this time, the patient is also screened for gestational diabetes – the extent to which the body metabolizes sugar by performing a glucose loading test. Patients who are negative for toxoplasmosis must have another antibody test.
The last – 3rd trimester (27-40 weeks) is preparation for childbirth. In addition to standard blood and urine tests, further follow-up ultrasound tests with the assessment of the weight of the fetus, as well as cardiotocography (CTG) tests to assess motor activity are also performed. Between 28 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, the doctor may suggest that a patient who is Rh negative without anti-D antibodies be given anti-D immunoglobulin. At the end of pregnancy, at 35-37 weeks, a group B streptococcus test is performed.
The last weeks of pregnancy are the time when the obstetrician supervises the proper course of pregnancy and carefully prepares the patient for childbirth – he explains in detail and answers questions about the course of childbirth, breastfeeding, the legitimacy of collecting and depositing stem cells from umbilical cord blood, etc.
Advantages of physiological and high-risk pregnancy
There are many advantages to managing a high-risk pregnancy and a physiological pregnancy by an experienced physician. Among the most important are
- Comprehensiveness – pregnancy is conducted in a standardized manner – in accordance with the applicable standards of perinatal care established by the Ministry of Health. All examinations are carried out in a comprehensive manner, and one doctor accompanies the patient from the first visit until the delivery.
- Peace and comfort of the future mother – constant care from the first weeks of pregnancy enables effective and early detection of possible abnormalities in the course of pregnancy and guarantees comfort and peace for the future mother during this period.
- Safety – tests are carried out by the highest class clinical equipment under the supervision of a qualified physician. This means that the patient does not have to worry about safety issues.
The effects
Constant medical care from the first weeks of pregnancy enables effective and early detection of possible abnormalities in the course of pregnancy and guarantees the future mother a sense of comfort and peace. Regular visits to the doctor allow you to monitor the development of the fetus and the health of the mother.
Testing at specific stages of pregnancy allows you to detect, inter alia, serological conflict, aberration in the number of chromosomes, which include Down’s syndrome and other serious diseases.
During visits to the doctor’s office, the patient also receives a lot of valuable information on subsequent tests during pregnancy and the possibility of conducting tests to assess the risk of genetically determined defects in the child. You will also learn about healthy lifestyle recommendations and antenatal care plans.
If you care about a safe course of pregnancy and a positive solution, then conducting a physiological and high-risk pregnancy by a qualified doctor is a solution tailored to your needs!
