Pregnancy consulting
Routine pregnancy consultancy
Generally
If you have planned your pregnancy in advance, you have probably been using folic acid supplements for at least 3 months. If not, start taking pregnancy vitamin supplements containing folic acid today and continue using them for at least 3 months. These supplements are available in every pharmacy or in a grocery store offering health supplements. Folic acid is also found in fresh fruit, vegetables, legumes, cereals and bread. However, this source is not sufficient for the requirements of your body and the foetus in the first trimester, and therefore this substance needs to be additionally supplemented.
Calcium is also essential for the development of strong bones and teeth, as well as the Omega 3 fatty acids contained in fish. A good balanced diet will provide the foetus with all needed nutrients and help you avoid an excessive weight gain during pregnancy. You should avoid fast foods that contain a high levels of fat and salt. In general, you will need a higher intake of calcium, iron, protein and some vitamins.
During the pregnancy, you should exclude alcohol, smoking and other social drugs. If you are taking any medicines for either long or short periods, consult the continuation of this treatment with your gynecologist. It is possible that you will have to drop them or be ordered a change of medicine.
Calcium - milk, hard cheese, yoghurt, almonds, vegetables
Iron - chicken, fish, lean red meat, beans, cereals, wholemeal bread, spinach, eggs, rice, pasta
Proteins - lean red meat, chicken, beans, hard cheese
Folic acid - green vegetables, soy beans, cereals, bananas
Complex carbohydrates - fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, nuts, pasta, potatoes
Vitamin C - citrus fruits, peppers, strawberries, currants, kiwi
Vitamin B12 - lean red meat, dairy products, chicken, fish
Vitamin D - milk, eggs, canned fish
Omega 3 Fatty Acids - salmon, herring, sardines, seeds, nuts
Water - drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres per day
Sufficient water intake prevents dehydration, prevents skin dryness and stretch marks. It is essential for digestion and prevents constipation, which could lead to haemorrhoids. During pregnancy, avoid food that may contain Listeria monocytogenes. These can be found in soft cheese such as Brie, Camembert, Mouldy cheese and other blue cheeses, as well as raw eggs, pistachios, raw seafood, unwashed fruit and vegetables, sushi and inexpensively cooked meals.
If you are currently working out, there is no reason to stop, unless you do contact sports. If you've just begun working out, start with gradual steps and take it slower than normally. Among the useful exercises for pregnant women we advise:
- swimming
- yoga
- walking
- bicycling on stationary bicycles
- Pilates – first degree
You can exercise at most three times a week, however not on hot days and during the noontime hours.
The recommended weight gain during pregnancy is between 10 and 14 kg. Your gynecologist, who leads the prenatal counselling, will monitor your weight in the individual trimesters of pregnancy.
What is it for?
There are several routine tests that are performed during pregnancy to check you and your foetus (see the table).
In the case of hospital restructuring and the prevention of corruption in state and private hospitals, individual hospitals allow you to choose an obstetrician. This selection is a paid service and each hospital has its own price list (about 200-400 €), and it should also be available on the website of your chosen hospital. The given service allows you to freely choose an obstetrician as well as any maternity-hospital in Slovakia. This amount is distributed between the health facility and the obstetrician, which is designated by the hospital directorate. Thus, you can freely choose an obstetrician but with his or her consent. You can make a selection based on recommendations and satisfaction from your friends, family or other acquaintances. You can also choose a doctor/nurse whom you have known for a long time. The choice of an obstetrician is linked to the maternity ward – a currently active hospital facility which there is and must be authorized management of the clinic. After the selection of an obstetrician, arrange a meeting with him/her due to his/her possible occupancy during the period of your delivery.
The future mother has the right to choose her maternity hospital, as well as to get acquainted with the premises (most often in collaboration with the obstetrician and the head nurse). The so-called catchment area of the hospital is no longer valid and is only used in cases of urgent medical service. The maternity hospital should also organize the so-called psychophysical preparation of future parents under the guidance of a midwife and clinical psychologist.
Please do not forget to bring all the results from the prenatal counselling at the maternity hospital. You’ll have most of them marked in your pregnancy book. In particular, you have the results of the combined test, morphological ultrasound, and ultrasound examination of foetal growth retardation screening, and if you have any results of other specialized examinations, you should bring them as well. Additionally, results of antibody titres, haematological pregnancy examinations and examinations by other medical specialists are also attached.
| Concept | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Amniotic fluid | Placental fluid |
| Prenatal | Before birth |
| Position at the end of the pelvis | Foetal position in the uterus, bum down |
| Position of the head | Foetal position in the uterus, head down |
| TP | Birth due date |
| PM | 1 day of last menstruation |
| IVF/ET | In vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (method of assisted reproduction) |
| Epidural analgesia (PEDA) | Epidural analgesia during birth |
| Foetus | Foetus |
| Fundus | Upper part of the uterus |
| Gestation week - GW | Week of pregnancy, used in gynecology for dating the pregnancy |
| Amnion | Membranous sac surrounding the foetus |
| Chorion, placenta | Secundine 18TG, Secundine from 18TG |
| Post-natal | After birth |
| Umbilical cord | Ensures the feeding of nutrition and oxygen from the placenta to the foetus |
| Uterus | Uterus |
Conclusion
Most women have healthy children, but to minimize the risk, you should follow the advice of a GP and a gynecologist. It is of the utmost importance to undergo ultrasound screening of innate structural and genetic abnormalities of the foetus, preeclampsia, foetal growth retardation and premature birth. You should also undertake all scheduled and obligatory medical check-ups, maintain a reasonable exercise regime and eat a balanced and nutritious diet.