Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : November 16, 2017 4:15 PM IST
When do you get registered for antenatal checkups? If your answer is after the seventh month of pregnancy, then you need to read this. It is a common myth that one should not register for antenatal checkups early. If you have elderly people at home, you might have heard them telling their daughters or daughter-in-laws that one should register for antenatal checkup only after the seventh month. But according to our expert Dr Pradeep Gadge, Diabetologist, Shreya Diabetes Centre, Mumbai, antenatal checkups should be done during 7th month of pregnancy is a WRONG concept. Wondering why? Here he explains in detail.
Antenatal checkup during pregnancy - what's the right time?
According to Dr Pradeep Gadge, the right time to register for an antenatal checkup is preferably during the initial months of the first trimester and not the third trimester. This is because it helps you to know if you are at risk of any health problem during pregnancy or after delivery. This includes hepatitis, HIV, rubella and most importantly gestational diabetes. Also, most of the diseases in the fetus which can be picked up early should actually be detected in 1st trimester. And unless you get an antenatal checkup done, you will miss out on these key health findings. Also, organogenesis, which is the development of the organs in fetus is complete by the first three months. After which the fetus tends to grow and the size of the child starts to increase. To pick up congenital anomalies in the first trimester, you need to register at the earliest. But unfortunately, this is not done. The American Diabetes Association recommends that every pregnant woman above the age of 25 years should get a routine blood test done. Here's more on first trimester tests you can t miss out on.
If you do not do antenatal checkup during the first trimester, then you will miss out on all the health cues which are important to be diagnosed in the early stages of development. So get registered as early as possible and as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. This will not only help you to act in a fast and effective way but also might lower the chances of possible health problems in the near future. Also, read about a complete guide to prenatal tests.
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