Pregnant women's prenatal check-ups at different stages of pregnancy are necessary. However, experts point out that the timing and methods of prenatal check-ups are crucial. A pregnant woman's physical examination should be done at least three months before pregnancy. Experts say that prenatal check-ups may reveal fetal abnormalities or congenital developmental disorders, but by this time it is actually late. If the check-up can be done during the preparation for pregnancy stage, and the medical history and factors that may affect the baby's normal development are explained to the doctor, it would be beneficial for giving birth to a healthy baby.
The first prenatal check-up is usually done within the first three months of pregnancy, and a detailed examination of various parts of the pregnant woman's body is performed. At this time, it is possible to detect some complications in the fetus, such as abnormal heart development or thyroid development, which can facilitate early intervention. During the middle stage of pregnancy, from 12 to 17 weeks, a check-up should be done once a month, and from 26 to 40 weeks, a check-up should be done every two weeks.
Additional check-up items may be added based on specific circumstances, such as screening for Down syndrome and neural tube defects between 15 and 20 weeks. Experts point out that for pregnant women under the age of 35, screening for Down syndrome can exclude the high-risk group, while high-risk individuals (including pregnant women over the age of 35) must undergo amniocentesis for further diagnosis.
Ultrasound and color ultrasound are the most commonly used examination methods in prenatal check-ups. Some pregnant women believe that color ultrasound provides clearer images than ultrasound, but this is not accurate. Color ultrasound only adds information on blood flow and vascular status, which is useful for diagnosing vascular diseases and is generally used between 22 and 24 weeks. Through ultrasound, the development of fetal internal organs and other organs can be clearly seen, and compared to color ultrasound, ultrasound is more cost-effective.
Experts remind pregnant women with the following conditions to undergo prenatal check-ups: diabetes patients; those who work in environments with prolonged exposure to strong magnetic fields or chemicals; those who have taken antiviral drugs in early pregnancy; those who are in a consanguineous marriage, as this greatly increases the incidence of genetic diseases such as congenital deafness; pregnant women who have unhealthy habits, such as smoking.
