When does prenatal care refer to

At present, it is generally recognized in clinical practice that prenatal care has been initiated when intrauterine pregnancy is diagnosed and the embryo is viable, covering the entire pregnancy until the onset of labor. However, there are actual differences in the point of "formally starting prenatal care" in different regions and different institutions.

I have been in the outpatient clinic of the maternal and child health hospital for almost 6 years, and I have met too many pregnant mothers who are confused about this time. Last week, a little girl who had just stopped menopause for 40 days and found two lines asked me, clutching the test sheet, if I should wait until 12 weeks to set up the record before I need to pay attention to this and that. I should not worry about what I should eat and drink now. In fact, it is not true. The first trimester is a critical period for the differentiation of fetal organs. Should you adjust the dose of hypothyroidism medication you took before pregnancy, whether the dose of folic acid supplements is enough, whether you are exposed to teratogenic risks such as tobacco, alcohol, and radiation, and whether you should intervene in nutritional supplements if morning sickness is severe. These are all within the scope of prenatal care and cannot wait until 12 weeks.

No wonder people have misunderstandings. Maternal and child management systems in many places only formally establish a profile after 12 weeks of gestation and confirm that the fetus is basically stable. Regular items such as follow-up regular prenatal check-ups, weight management, fetal position monitoring, and delivery rehearsals are included in unified management. Many doctors and nurses will verbally tell pregnant mothers, "We will officially provide regular prenatal care after the profile is established." Over time, many people regard the filing point as the starting point of prenatal care. There are also some pregnant mothers who confuse prenatal care with preparations before delivery. They think that care is only needed when the belly is big in the third trimester or when the baby is about to give birth. Last month, I met a pregnant mother who came for her first prenatal check-up at 32 weeks of pregnancy. She said she had no bleeding or stomachache before, so she didn't take it seriously. When checked, her systolic blood pressure reached 150, and there was a plus sign in urine protein. It took two weeks to adjust her blood pressure to stabilize it. If she had done basic prenatal monitoring earlier, she would not have suffered this problem at all.

In fact, there is really no need to worry about the "official starting point". You can treat your pregnancy as planting a small fruit tree. You can't wait until the fruit is almost ripe before you remember to water and fertilize it, right? From the day you decide to keep the baby, you should take the initiative to adjust your work and rest schedule, go for check-ups on time, and seek medical advice promptly if you have any questions. This is considered to be adequate prenatal care.