Foetus and Mother

Foetus and Mother

Pregnancy and delivery are one of the key events in the life of a woman. Get the best maternity care in Indore at our hospital. Our highly talented gynaecologists and obstetricians are supported by state-of-the-art amenities that help them provide exceptional prenatal care and post-delivery support for pregnant women. Our services include antenatal care, antenatal immunization, antenatal exercise, management of high-risk pregnancies, delivery support, counselling and lactation advice, and world-class PICU and NICU facilities.

Having access to high quality medical care and attention prior to, during, and after pregnancy is indispensable for the health and well-being of the foetus. Not only will it help you stay fit before and after delivery, but it will also ensure that the baby grows and develops properly. Having access to pregnancy care is the optimum way to ensure that your unborn baby has a headstart on a healthy and fulfilled life.

Good quality prenatal care includes healthy habits and optimum nutrition prior to pregnancy and during it. It is important that you discuss this with your obstetrician before you decide to conceive. Below are some things you might want to consider:

  • Choose a healthcare provider
    After doing some research on who will take care of you during pregnancy and childbirth, you must choose a healthcare provider who you can trust. He/she will be responsible for providing you with prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal services including counselling and medical advice.
  • Take folic acid supplements
    Taking folic acid supplementation during pregnancy minimises the risk of congenital birth defects in the baby. You must not forget to ask for advice on the same from your doctor.
  • Discuss with your doctor any medicines you are currently taking
    Make sure to only take the medicines that your doctor advises you on taking or continuing if you are trying to conceive. Don’t forget to discuss your drug history with your doctor, including any details on your current medications. This will help him formulate the best treatment plan for you.
  • Avoid taking alcohol or any recreational drugs and cut down on caffeine to be on the safe side.
  • If you are a smoker, quit smoking.
  • Attend regular prenatal appointments with your doctor to ensure the well-being of your unborn baby. Your doctor will advise you on regular screening and investigations, identify any congenital anomalies, and constantly monitor your pregnancy. The examination and the number of visits you might need depend on whether you are in the first, second, or third trimester of pregnancy.
  • These investigations generally include glucose tests to diagnose gestational diabetes, serial ultrasounds to determine how the foetus is growing and an expected delivery date, foetal echocardiography to monitor its heart rate and other cardiac parametres, and blood tests to look for the normal foetal DNA in your blood, amniocentesis to identify genetic anomalies and birth defects, a test of nuchal translucency to look for any problems with the baby's genes, tests to determine any sexually transmitted diseases, blood type testing like ABO and Rh, anaemia blood tests, and blood tests to continue the follow-up of any chronic illness or disorder you had before pregnancy.
  • You may want to screen for genetic anomalies depending on how susceptible you are based on your family history. Before going for genetic testing, you must consider a number of things. You should also ask your healthcare provider if screening is right for you. You might want to see your healthcare provider more often and get additional screenings and investigations done if you have a high-risk pregnancy.

Morning sickness, backaches, leg pain, sleeping problems, skin and hair changes, and bleeding per vagina are some common symptoms that women experience in the early months of their pregnancy (first trimester). You can discuss these common pregnancy symptoms with your healthcare provider and seek help to manage them.

While the above-mentioned symptoms are faced by the majority of pregnant females, you must acknowledge the fact that no two pregnancies are exactly the same, and some women experience fewer or milder symptoms during their pregnancy. In fact, many women continue doing normal, full-time jobs during their pregnancy and travel even alone. On the other hand, some other females may need bed rest for a few weeks during the course of their pregnancy to ensure that everything goes on smoothly.

Possible Pregnancy Complications

Because pregnancy is a complex process, complications tend to arise during its course. If you happen to have a complicated pregnancy, you must not worry, as having a complicated pregnancy does not necessarily mean that you will not deliver a healthy baby. However, you must seek regular appointments with a healthcare provider to closely monitor you at all phases of your pregnancy and pay special attention to you and your baby at all times during the course till term.

Common complications related to pregnancy include hypertension in pregnancy, diabetes in pregnancy, placental anomalies, premature cervical changes, vaginal bleeding, premature labour, impaired growth and development in the baby, and medical problems in the foetus. Even though it might be scary to think of the potential consequences these complications might give rise to, it is vital to acknowledge that most of these complications can be managed effectively and kept under control by your healthcare provider. With proper and adequate care, you can still enjoy a normal, uneventful pregnancy.

Labour and Delivery

Talk to your healthcare provider in advance about what to expect during labour and post-delivery. This way, you can help formulate an effective birth plan that matches with your personal preferences. You may ask certain questions like how they are planning to take care of your labour pain, what would happen if your normal delivery needs to be converted into an emergency C-section, and what type of anaesthesia will be used during the procedure. All these are vital questions and you must know the answers to these before your delivery. Knowing what to expect well ahead of time and making a mental list of the things you will need to carry to the hospital when the time approaches is always a good idea.

You will notice certain changes as your due date approaches. It may not always be straightforward to determine if you are in labour pain. Your doctor will inform you about the best time to get admitted to the hospital to deliver the baby. You must also ask from your healthcare provider about any additional steps you might want to take if you cross your due date. Depending on your overall medical history and specific personal history, your obstetrician might decide to induce labour at around 39 to 49 weeks.

Although having a baby is an exciting and wonderful event for the patients, it also means a lot of apprehension and hard work for the mother. The pregnant woman must take very good care of herself in the first few weeks following delivery to ensure that she does not face any complications. The type of care you need depends upon how you plan to deliver the baby and your specific risk factors.

You might need to spend a few days in the hospital before you are discharged if you are undergoing a vaginal delivery. In case of a C-section, the hospital stay may be required for 2-3 days. You will be counselled about how to take care of yourself at home post-discharge. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months post-delivery is highly advocated by experts and benefits the baby and the mother. This will also enhance his physical well-being in the long run.

You must seek an appointment with a healthcare provider if you are pregnant or suspect being pregnant while having the following conditions:

  • You are a diagnosed case of diabetes, thyroid disease, seizures, high blood pressure, and take medications for the same
  • You are not receiving prenatal care
  • You are not being able to control the normal pregnancy symptoms with only medications
  • You suspect exposure to a sexually transmitted infection, harmful chemicals, radiation, or toxic pollutants

Apart from that, you must seek help from your healthcare provider immediately if your pregnancy is associated with painful urination, vaginal bleeding, fever with chills, severe belly pain, physical or emotional abuse that is severe, or have a feeling that your water breaks before the due date. You must also talk to your doctor urgently if you are in the last trimester of your pregnancy but do not perceive the foetal movements.

The Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Indore delivers international standard treatment and care for a wide range of gynaecological and obstetrical conditions in accordance with the standardised protocols and quality standards. Consult the best gynaecologists in Indore here who are supported by state-of-the-art equipments to provide high quality maternity care.