In addition to joy and excitement, in many occasions pregnancy also provokes doubts and uncertainties, especially in first-time mothers and fathers. This article is intended to clarify the questions that often arise in parents about this special time in their lives.
How does pregnancy monitoring work?
Pregnancy controls are governed by care protocols, which will be accompanied by the necessary information provided by the patient to ensure comprehensive, evidence-based and personalized care.
Thus, the specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics will ask the patient for information on healthy habits and reasons for consultation. She will provide maternal education on childbirth, puerperium and breastfeeding.
The first pregnancy control visit is essential to establish a bond of trust between the pregnant woman, her family and the doctors.
What tests should be performed during pregnancy?
Essential tests include analytical controls in the three trimesters of pregnancy, an initial ultrasound to date the pregnancy, prenatal diagnostic tests to rule out congenital pathologies, and ultrasound scans to study fetal morphology and monitor growth. Urine studies and vagino-rectal culture are also performed to rule out infections.
Apart from the essential, there are complementary tests that can also be performed, such as detection of fetal DNA in maternal blood, high-resolution Doppler ultrasound and 3D / 4D ultrasound.
In addition to the tests, in pregnancy control it is essential to accompany the patient and provide her with good information on the best development of the pregnancy, control her weight and blood pressure.
What psychological changes will I experience during pregnancy?
Pregnancy is one of the most exciting phases of life, also full of feelings of anguish, anxiety and fears due to the novelty of the situation.
During the first trimester of pregnancy, the excitement of the news is mixed with the respect of getting through the first few months. In addition, there will be hormonal changes that can affect mood. The tests during this period are the protagonists, while waiting to know the results and development of the pregnancy.
In the second trimester the patient may feel more calm and physical and emotional stability, while the tests give security and the ultrasound scans show the evolution of the baby. In the third trimester, some impatience may appear due to the desire for the birth to arrive. It is also normal to feel heavier and more tired, and there may be problems sleeping. During this time, the uncertainty and insecurity of not knowing what the birth will be like can also generate insecurity.
Postpartum can also have emotional implications that should not be overlooked, and is when women report feeling less supported professionally.
Can postpartum depression be prevented?
In the postpartum period, the hormonal changes of childbirth together with the radical change of life can generate a series of emotional changes that must be managed correctly to avoid depression.
One in ten women who give birth suffers from postpartum depression, which can persist for months or even years if not properly treated. Prompt diagnosis and supportive environment during treatment will help overcome depression in a short period of time.
Can the mother decide about her own childbirth?
In recent decades there has been an increasing demand for women to participate in decisions about their pregnancy, to express their preferences (such as music therapy, aromatherapy, etc.) and to opt for less interventionist births such as unmedicated childbirth, water birth, or giving birth in an upright position.
Childbirth care should include respectful care and offer care with minimal obstetric intervention, according to the physiological process. It is important to encourage the involvement of medical specialists to help expectant mothers in making decisions throughout the process, always preserving their safety and that of the baby.
It is important to be able to provide a close environment and quality psycho-affective support, without the possibilities of hospital management and the speed of action required by complications in childbirth.
Medical advances in the management of pregnancy and childbirth
The lines of research seek to identify ways of diagnosing and treating prenatal diseases that have an impact on childhood and adult life. One example is the work of the research team in fetal and perinatal medicine: Fetal i+D, in collaboration with the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute in Barcelona. Research will focus especially on fetal neurodevelopment, cardiovascular programming, prematurity, placental pathology, fetal therapy and surgery. In recent years, the study of the influence of preconceptional and prenatal environmental exposure on pregnancy and reproductive health has been initiated.