Ante-natal care is the care you will receive from health professiionals during your pregnancy to make sure that you and your baby is as well as possible.

Typically, you should seek ante-natal care as soon as you know that you are pregnant. However, at Spring Garden, we believe that it is ideal that you approach your doctor when you start planning for pregnancy. This is because the physical and mental health of the to-be mother during the pre-pregnancy stage is also critical to the health of the baby. We recommend a minimum of one month Preconception Care (PCC) for the mother and this is why the Ante-Natal Care Programme of Spring Garden includes an additional month before pregnancy. This of course assumes that your pregnancy is planned and wanted, which is the way it should be.

The Ante-Natal Care Programme is a comprehensive 12 month care package, starting from one month before pregnancy to two months after delivery.

The package includes:

• Preconception care consultation and tests

• Ante-natal check-ups (starting with pregnancy):

  • Monthly check-ups till the 28th week (7 visits)

  • Fortnightly check-ups from the 29th to the 36th week (4 visits)

  • Weekly check-ups from the 37th to the 40th week. (4 visits)

(During these check-ups maternal well-being will be closely assessed, foetal growth and well-being carefully monitored and possible risk factors during pregnancy identified.)

• Ante-natal investigations:

  • Blood group and hepatitis B, HIV, VDRL and other screening tests

  • Regular checking of Hb and urine analysis

  • Glucose challenge and glucose tolerance tests

  • One ultrasound scan during each trimester (the first to avoid mistake in date; the second to pick up any anomalies; and the third to assess foetal well-being).

• Ante-natal dietary advice for the mother;

• Ante-natal exercise for the mother;

• All procedures associated with delivery (including hospitalization)

• Post-natal care

  • Check-up for the mother and child

  • Dietary advice and well-being exercises for the mother

  • Immunization for the new-born.

Ante-natal care will go a long way towards ensuring that the health of the mother and the baby is taken care of during pregnancy and immediately after birth. Such a care programme is very beneficial if it is you first pregnancy, and even if it is not, and your pregnancy is going well, it is important that you do not miss any appointment.

During this period:

• The health of the mother will be carefully watched;

• The health and growth of the foetus will be closely monitored;

• Possible risk factors will be identified and professionally managed;

• You will get useful advice and information to help you have a healthy pregnancy, including advice about healthy eating and exercise;

• You will get an opportunity to discuss your options and choices for your care during pregnancy, labour and birth;

• You will get information about:

  • preparing for labour and birth;

  • how to tell if you are in labour;

  • induction of labour, if you baby is overdue;

  • the "baby blues' and post-natal depression;

  • feeding your baby;

  • vitamin K;

  • keeping track of your baby's movements;

  • screening tests and vaccinations for the newborn baby; and

  • looking after yourself and your baby.

• You will get an opportunity to get all your questions answered and doubts cleared regarding pregnancy and childbirth.

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• Creating detailed nutrition and exercise plans.

This is why we insist on at least one month of Preconception Care for the to-be mother in the Ante-Natal Care Programme.

It would be ideal if your partner comes along with you so that he can help with the ante-natal care at home.

We would also strongly recommend that your partner join Preconception Care along with you because the physical and mental health of your partner too has a significant role in the phsyical and mental health of the baby. For example, conditions like obesity, diabetes or hypertension, habits like smoking and consuming alcohol, medications being used or drug abuse, pollutants in the working environment, etc., can significantly affect the health and well-being of the baby.