Pregnancy is an exciting time for an expectant woman. While pregnancy is a happy time, you need to make sure that your baby is healthy during your pregnancy. This is where antenatal care comes in. Antenatal care is the healthcare and support you receive while you’re pregnant. This ensures you and your unborn baby are healthy throughout your pregnancy.
Dr Ntloko offers antenatal care to pregnant women not only for the journey of pregnancy but also for the birth of their baby. During your first antenatal appointment, Dr Ntloko will confirm your pregnancy and discuss your gynaecological history.
We recommend coming for your first appointment between 7 – 10 weeks of pregnancy. During this appointment, Dr Ntloko will perform a dating scan, take your medical and gynaecological history, discuss birth choices and answer any questions that you may have. Following this, Dr Ntloko will see you approximately 4-6 weekly until you’re 28 weeks pregnant. When you’re 28-36 weeks pregnant, you need to come in every two weeks. After 36 weeks of pregnancy, you need to come in for weekly visits until your baby is born.
Dr Ntloko performs the following screenings:
- Pregnancy diagnosis: A physical examination, laboratory evaluation, and ultrasound is used to confirm the pregnancy
- First-trimester screen: An ultrasound between 8 and 12 weeks of your pregnancy to check on your pregnancy health and your baby’s development in the first trimester.
- Second-trimester screening: Taken between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, these may include blood tests to provide information about the risk of having a baby with certain genetic conditions or birth defects.
- Maternal risk profile assessment: a blood test combined with an ultrasound to determine the chance of an unborn child having Down syndrome, Edward syndrome or a neural tube defect.
Dr Ntloko will also prioritise any physical symptoms that may be plaguing you during your pregnancy such as morning sickness, fatigue, weight gain and anxiety. She will also offer advice on healthy eating and lifestyle changes.
Dr Ntloko does her utmost to make you feel comfortable enough to ask any questions you may have about your pregnancy. For example, you can ask her advice on physical pregnancy symptoms and the birth itself. You may also want to ask questions about caring for your baby after birth.
