Pregnancy Guidelines

Three Trimesters of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters, each marked by specific fetal developments. A full-term pregnancy is considered 40 weeks, while babies born before 37 weeks are premature. Premature infants may face challenges with growth, development, breathing, and digestion.

First Trimester (0 to 13 Weeks)

The first trimester is crucial for your baby's development. It's when their body structure and organ systems form. Most miscarriages and birth defects take place during this period. Your body also goes through significant changes during the first trimester, which can lead to various symptoms like nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness, and frequent urination. Every woman's experience is unique. For instance, while some may have increased energy, others may feel tired and emotional.

Second Trimester (14 to 26 Weeks)

The second trimester is often called the "golden period". It is so because many of unpleasant effects of early pregnancy fade away. During this time, you're likely to experience reduced nausea, improved sleep, and increased energy. However, you may encounter new symptoms like- back pain, abdominal pain, leg cramps, constipation, and heartburn. Between 16 and 20 weeks, you may feel your baby's first fluttering movements.

Third Trimester (27 to 40 Weeks)

You've reached the final stretch of pregnancy and may be eagerly anticipating the birth of your baby. In this period, you may experience physical symptoms like shortness of breath, hemorrhoids, urinary incontinence, varicose veins, and sleeping difficulties. Many of these symptoms arise from the growing size of your uterus.

Pregnancy Care

Getting proper prenatal care from experts is essential to ensure the health of both you and your baby during pregnancy. If you suspect you're pregnant, reach out to our experts to schedule an appointment and establish a prenatal care plan. During these visits, tests are conducted on both you and your baby to identify any potential risks, address complications, and monitor your baby's growth and development.

The number of prenatal visits can vary based on factors like your overall health and the recommendations from the experts at our hospital. If you have preexisting medical conditions like diabetes or encounter complications during pregnancy, you may require additional prenatal care. When everything is progressing well, visits are scheduled to coincide with important pregnancy milestones and necessary tests.

Moreover, these visits are an opportunity for the doctor to provide you with essential information as your pregnancy advances and help you prepare for childbirth.

Common tests performed during pregnancy include the following:

1. Amniocentisis : This test is performed between week 15 and week 20 of pregnancy. Although not all women decide to have an amniocentesis, it is routinely performed on women who are at risk for genetic disorders or are over age 35. In this procedure a sample of the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus is obtained. The fluid is used to help identify chromosomal and genetic disorders and certain birth defects. When done during the third trimester, this procedure also can assess the maturity of your baby's lungs.

2. Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) : CVS is usually performed between week 10 and week 13 of pregnancy. Like amniocentesis, CVS is a prenatal test that can often detect genetic abnormalities and chromosomal disorders. However, the main advantage of a CVS versus amniocentesis is that it can be performed much earlier in pregnancy.

3. Expanded Alpha-Fetoprotein Screening : This blood tests is performed during your 15 to 20 week visit. It measures the levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a protein released by the baby's liver and found in your blood, as well as hCG and estriol. Abnormal results on the expanded AFP test may indicate fetal brain or spinal cord defects, multiple fetuses, a miscalculated due date, or Down syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality that includes mental retardation and distinct physical features. Typically, this AFP screening is performed by your obstetrician

4. Fetal Monitoring During pregnancy : the doctor may want to monitor the fetal heart rate and uterine activity. Fetal monitoring involves using an ultrasound transducer to measure the fetal heart rate and a toco transducer to identify uterine activity.

5. Genetic Screening : Many genetic abnormalities, such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia and hemophilia A. These abnormalities can be diagnosed before birth. The experts at Nimai's Borneo Mother and Child Hospitals may recommend genetic testing during the pregnancy if you are over the age of 35, if you or your partner have a family history of genetic disorders, or if you have had a fetus or baby with some genetic abnormality.

6. Glucose Tolerance Test : This test is generally performed during the fifth month of pregnancy. It measures the levels of sugar (glucose) in your blood. Abnormal glucose levels may indicate gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that may develop during pregnancy and requires monitoring.

7. Group B Strep Culture : Group B Streptococcus is an infection in the mother that can lead to complications and sometimes death in the newborn if the infection is transmitted to the baby, which can occur during delivery. Group B strep has become more prevalent in the last two decades. Doctors now routinely perform cultures on the mother's vagina and rectum to diagnose the infection. Group B strep can easily be treated with antibiotics.

8. Nuchal Translucency Screening (NT) : (NT) screening, a new, non-invasive test performed early in pregnancy to identify an increased risk for Down syndrome and other birth defects. NT screening is performed when you are 11 to 14 weeks pregnant. It is offered to women of all ages. The screening is done via a high-resolution ultrasound exam of the nuchal area — a fold of skin at the back of the neck of the fetus. The results are combined with the mother's age to determine an adjusted risk for Down syndrome. The rate of detection for Down syndrome is about 80 percent. Based on the results, a woman has the option of undergoing CVS or amniocentesis for diagnosis.

9. Ultrasound : This machine generates a picture of the fetus using sound waves. By looking at the image, the doctor can tell the age of the fetus and whether there are twins. A detailed ultrasound also can detect certain birth detects.