Pregnancy is a journey full of expectations and surprises, and prenatal checkups are an important part of this journey to ensure safety. Understanding prenatal examination procedures can help expectant mothers more confidently welcome the arrival of new life.
In early pregnancy (before 12 weeks of gestation), prenatal check ups focus on confirming pregnancy and embryo development. Ultrasound examination is crucial, performed between 6-8 weeks of pregnancy, to determine whether it is an intrauterine pregnancy and rule out the risk of ectopic pregnancy. At the same time, check the fetal bud and heartbeat to understand whether the embryo is alive. In addition, some basic examinations will be carried out, such as blood routine examination, urine routine examination, liver and kidney function examination, blood type examination, fasting blood glucose examination, AIDS examination, syphilis examination, hepatitis B examination and other infectious diseases examination. These examinations can comprehensively assess the basic physical condition of expectant mothers and provide basis for pregnancy health care.
During mid pregnancy (13-27 weeks), the number of prenatal check ups gradually increases and becomes more targeted. At 11-13 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy, an NT (nuchal translucency) examination will be performed to measure the thickest part of the subcutaneous anechoic translucency in the fetal neck using ultrasound, in order to assess the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. At 15-20 weeks of pregnancy, Down syndrome screening is introduced. It involves extracting blood from expectant mothers, detecting certain biomarkers in the serum, and calculating the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome based on information such as the mother's age and gestational age. If the Tang screening results indicate a high risk, further amniocentesis or non-invasive DNA testing may be necessary. A comprehensive prenatal screening examination, also known as systematic ultrasound examination, is conducted between 20-24 weeks of pregnancy. It involves a detailed examination of all organs throughout the fetus, which can identify any structural abnormalities such as congenital heart disease, neural tube defects, cleft lip and palate. The glucose tolerance test at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy is a key item for screening diabetes in pregnancy. After taking glucose orally on an empty stomach, expectant mothers need to detect the blood sugar values after 1 hour and 2 hours respectively. If the blood sugar exceeds the standard, they need to adjust their diet and monitor the blood sugar in time, and receive treatment if necessary to reduce the adverse effects of high blood sugar on mothers and infants.
In the late stage of pregnancy (after 28 weeks), the frequency of prenatal check ups increases, mainly focusing on the growth and development of the fetus, fetal position, and the physical condition of the expectant mother, in preparation for delivery. Starting from 28 weeks, each prenatal examination will measure uterine height and abdominal circumference to evaluate whether the fetal size matches the gestational age; Monitor fetal position, and if the fetal position is not correct, try to correct it at the appropriate time. Perform ultrasound examination at 30-32 weeks to confirm fetal development, fetal position, amniotic fluid, placenta, and other conditions again. After 34 weeks, fetal heart rate monitoring will be performed, which continuously records changes in fetal heart rate to understand whether the fetus has hypoxia in the uterus. This is one of the important items of prenatal check ups in late pregnancy, and each prenatal check is usually conducted. At 36-37 weeks, a comprehensive prenatal examination will be conducted, including re evaluation of pelvic condition, determination of delivery method, and checking if the expectant mother has any contraindications for delivery. After 38 weeks, prenatal check ups become more frequent, ready to welcome the birth of a new life at any time. Doctors will decide whether to be hospitalized early for delivery based on the specific conditions of the expectant mother and fetus.
Production inspection is a systematic and continuous process, with each item having its specific meaning and time requirements. Expectant mothers must undergo prenatal check ups on time, follow the doctor's advice, and promptly identify and address various issues that may arise during pregnancy, laying a solid foundation for the healthy birth of their babies.