Pregnancy follow-up is the regular check-up performed to determine the gestational age from the beginning of pregnancy to the postpartum period, to create a pregnancy care plan by evaluating the health status of the mother and the fetus (baby), and to inform the parents, to predict and prevent problems that may arise during pregnancy or to treat the detected problems. .

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How is Pregnancy Follow-Up Done in Our Country?

 

Every pregnant woman should be monitored by a healthcare professional or institution throughout pregnancy. It would be better to start examinations when pregnancy planning is done. Because the effect of the diseases existing in the mother before pregnancy on the pregnancy process, investigating the existence of a pregnancy-related or other problem, planning the necessary medical treatments to prepare for pregnancy, informing the couple about the pregnancy and starting the pregnancy in a healthy way can be revealed through pre-pregnancy examinations.

 

According to the "Prenatal Care Management Guide" of the Ministry of Health, the first follow-up should be done within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy and the doctor should visit the patient for 30 minutes for follow-up. It is recommended to take your time. If the pregnant woman arrives after the 14th week of pregnancy, it is considered as the first follow-up, regardless of the week of pregnancy. All procedures that need to be done in the first follow-up are applied. Additionally, additional follow-up procedures are carried out according to the week of pregnancy.

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What are the procedures during the first follow-up of pregnancy (first 14 weeks)?

 

Information is collected about the expectant mother's contact information, personal information, family history, history of concomitant diseases, and gynecological health history, including the current pregnancy.

During the physical examination, height, weight, blood pressure and pulse values at the beginning of pregnancy are measured. General body and obstetric examination is performed. Laboratory tests are requested.
 

These examinations:

 

Urine examination (proteinuria, bacteriuria),

Blood tests (hemoglobin, ferritin, blood group, indirect coombs, HbsAg if necessary), TSH,

If Fasting Blood Sugar (FBG) is between 100-126 mg/dl, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) = Sugar Loading Test).

Chromosomal aneuploidy screening tests (combined test at 11-14 weeks of gestation; if not done, triple and quadruple test between 16-20 weeks of gestation).

 

According to laboratory results, support and treatment is started for pregnant women when necessary.

 

Iron: If anemia is detected, iron treatment should be started immediately, otherwise after the 16th week of pregnancy.

Vitamin D: 9 drops/day as of the 12th week of pregnancy,

Tetanus and Hepatitis B Immunization: Although necessary,

Flu vaccine: If the 2nd and 3rd trimesters coincide with the flu season,

Giving the necessary treatment in the presence of infection.

 

In this first visit, in addition to medical approaches, the pregnant woman should be given information and counseling about pregnancy nutrition, physical activity, sexual life, oral health, quitting smoking and alcohol consumption, and danger signs for possible emergencies.