Regular Checkup Tests

Throughout your pregnancy, at each of your visit to your obstetrician, you will have to undergo a urine test, blood pressure test, a weight check and a foetal heartbeat check.

Urine test

This test is done to find if you have normal level of sugar and protein. High level of sugar could mean you have gestational diabetes, which in many women develops around the 20th week of pregnancy.

High levels of protein in the urine could indicate you have urinary tract infection, kidney disease or high blood pressure which is likely to occur in late pregnancy. High levels of protein, if accompanied by high blood pressure, can lead to preeclampsia, a serious disorder.

The urine test can also diagnose bladder and kidney infections, if present. These abnormalities are detected so that you can get timely treatment and protect your and your baby’s health during the pregnant period and pave way for a problemless delivery.

Blood pressure checking

During every visit, your blood pressure will be checked. Normal range of blood pressure in Indian women is between 90/ 60 mm of Hg to 120/ 80 mm of Hg. If your blood pressure is 140/ 90 mm of Hg or higher, this indicates high blood pressure.

High blood pressure that develops usually after 20th week of pregnancy, known as gestational hypertension, can harm mother’s kidneys and other organs and can cause low birth weight and early delivery.

Complications in pregnancy may arise in women with chronic high blood pressure. Low pressure is associated with less weight gain and can cause dizziness and fainting. If you are found to have high blood pressure, your doctor will advise for frequent prenatal checkups for close monitoring of the condition, may prescribe certain medicines, advise bed rest and to take a salt-free diet. Treatment for severity of condition is none other than delivery of the baby.

Weight checking

At every visit, your doctor will check your weight. You will gain weight from week to week as you get along with pregnancy. Weight gain through your pregnancy is based on your body mass index i.e your weight in relation to your height, before you became pregnant. If you were a woman of average weight before pregnancy, weight gain should be 25 to 35 pounds [11 to 16 kg] during pregnancy. Underweight women should gain a little more, in the range of 28 to 40 pounds. Overweight women need to gain not more than 15 to 25 pounds.

Normal weight gain in terms of trimesters is about 5 pounds in the first trimester, and about 1 pound every week in the second and third trimesters. For underweight women, recommended weight gain is 5 pounds in the first, and slightly more than 1 pound every week of second and third trimesters. For overweight women, it is 5 pounds in the first and only ½ pound every week of second and third trimesters. Weight gain lower to normal will indicate the baby is small in size which may cause health problems in the baby. Higher to normal weight gain, especially in the first trimester, means there is an increased risk of developing diabetes and hypertension in late pregnancy, and also the baby is likely to be heavy and may cause problem during delivery. Women who gain too little or too much weight during pregnancy are at risk of having a preterm birth. Eating a healthy, balanced diet and simple exercises will help maintain a steady progress with regard to weight gain throughout your pregnancy.

Foetal heart beat checking

Foetal heart beat checking is most important in your prenatal care. From regular monitoring of heart beat of the foetus, you can ensure that the baby is growing healthy and normal. You will be able to hear the foetal heart beat from 9th week onwards with use of an electronic device called Doppler device. Using a regular stethoscope, you can hear the heart beat only from 20th week. An ultrasound scan can pick up heartbeat as early as 6 weeks into your pregnancy.