Being pregnant is a joy, and your experiences throughout this process are precious. These are all moments to treasure and document for future reference, from your baby’s first kick to your first sonogram. Although this is an exciting period, you may feel anxious about the birth, especially if you are a first-time mother. Being pregnant, you may have higher stress levels and anxiety, but this does not mean you are alone. As a specialist OB-GYN, Dr Molefi is there every step of the way, guiding you throughout your pregnancy.
What happens at prenatal counselling?
The transition to parenthood can bring about mixed feelings of happiness and fear. Your changing body can be uncomfortable as it takes time to get used to your growing belly. No pregnancy is the same; your experiences will be unique. What works for you might not suit someone else. Prenatal counselling addresses these concerns and puts your mind at ease through tailor-made healthcare plans.
One of the main topics that are touched upon is prenatal anxiety and depression. Again, there is no perfect how-to guide on ways to parent. Your parenting style will be different, with plenty of mistakes made along the way, which is how we learn. Dr Molefi focuses on your entire wellbeing, including prenatal and postnatal health.
Before and during pregnancy, your doctor conducts prenatal tests, which are:
- Blood tests to measure blood sugar (glucose) levels and check for anaemia, rubella and sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.
- Genetic testing is done to check for Down Syndrome, sickle cell anaemia and cystic fibrosis. Tay-Sachs is transmissible to babies and occurs due to a lack of an enzyme that destroys fat tissue, medically referred to as gangliosides. These fatty substances can accumulate and affect the baby’s nerve cells.
- Urine tests to check for kidney infections or confirm pregnancies by measuring hCG levels and indicate diabetes or preeclampsia.
- An ultrasound exam is conducted to assess your baby’s health. An ultrasound in conjunction with a blood test determines Down syndrome from eleven to fourteen weeks of pregnancy. An ultrasound takes fifteen to forty-five minutes to complete. Your doctor moves an ultrasound probe over a soft gel on your stomach. The probe emits sound waves inaudible to the ear that form pictures of your baby inside the womb.
Up-to-date information regarding your baby’s health status puts all those concerns to rest. Regular prenatal tests and ultrasound screenings will help prepare you for the delivery of your baby.
