Pregnancy follow-up

What are the benefits of monitoring pregnancy?

Pregnancy should be experienced as a magical time. This is why a quality medical check is essential in order to face this period in the best conditions.

Prenatal consultations

These medical interviews are compulsory for all pregnant women. They are essential to control the progress of your pregnancy. The first visit takes place before the 3rd month. The other six, take place between the 4th and the 9th month of gestation.

These medical consultations are organized around the following points:

• Establish a general health check of the patient: during the first prenatal appointment, the mother-to-be discusses her family, medical and surgical history; her professional, and lifestyle habits; her previous pregnancies
• Check the constants: weight, pulse, blood pressure
• Fetal heart auscultations
• Uterine measurements
• Gynecological examinations

Exams and tests

During the three trimesters, the mother-to-be undergoes a whole series of tests and analyzes:

• Urin analyzes to check possible infections, and to control the presence of sugar and protein
• Blood tests: these are to detect problems of anemia or Rhesus incompatibility; detect pathologies (toxoplasmosis, rubella, sexually transmitted diseases, etc.)
• Trisomy 21 screening
• Amniocentesis: this is a sample of amniotic fluid, revealing detailed information about the fetus

Ultrasounds

These are certainly the most emotional times in the pregnancy follow-up. However, the three mandatory ultrasounds are considered primarily medical examinations.

• The first ultrasound: dates the pregnancy and aims to examine the organs and limbs of the fetus. The examination gives rise to two important measurements: the cranio caudal length (distance between the top of the head and the bottom of the buttocks) and the nuchal translucency (thickness of the fetal neck). The healthcare professional checks the ovaries and uterus to detect possible malformations.
• The second ultrasound: it takes place between 22 and 24 weeks of amenorrhea. It allows you to reveal the sex of your future child and to check the progress of its growth (measurements of the brain, bones, nose, etc.).
• The third ultrasound: performed around the 8th month, it is defined as the well-being of the fetus. All the organs have been scrutinized. In addition, healthcare professionals pay special attention to the beating of the heart and the location of the placenta.