“I am pregnant. What should I do? What care should I get?”
In Malaysia, there are two parallel healthcare systems: Private and public. Both are of high standards and your choice may depend on your financial capability or access to either of the care based on your individual considerations.
If you choose to get public healthcare, go to your nearest klinik kesihatan and make an appointment. There, the nurse will first conduct an interview to get your full medical history, then make your antenatal book (also known as the pink book) and the necessary blood test. After that, you will be seen by a doctor and an initial examination will take place. They will give you a schedule by the end of it. If you choose private healthcare, you can choose a general practitioner who manages antenatal care for uncomplicated cases.
If there are any problems, you should see an obstetrician. If there are any medical complications or problems with your baby, you will then need to see a maternal fetal medicine specialist. This subspecialist manages mother and baby complications during gestation to ensure a safe pregnancy and the best outcomes for both.
Clinic visits during pregnancy
The usual schedule for clinic visits are usually four weekly until 28 weeks of pregnancy – then fortnightly until 36 weeks of pregnancy and weekly until delivery. However, if there is a need, for whatever reason, these appointments could be changed to suit your needs.
You will usually need a haemoglobin level check every month. This is because your blood volume increases from 5 to 7 litres during the pregnancy.
However, for some people, the red blood cell count does not increase proportionately and may cause anaemia, which needs to be treated.
During your pregnancy, you will also undergo a sugar test to check if you have diabetes. The protocol varies from place to place, so please ask your doctor.
As the rate of diabetes is very high in Malaysia, this test is now routinely done to exclude those who have diabetes complicating their pregnancy and those that develop gestational diabetes during their pregnancy.
Some centres will offer you a Non-Invasive Pregnancy Test. It is a screening test for chromosomal abnormalities. It is for low risk cases but due to the cost, it is not offered universally.
Screening
Everybody gets excited for ultrasound examinations. This is an opportunity for the expecting couple to see their baby that is growing in the womb. But, not all scans are necessary.
The first scan that needs to be done is during the initial stage of your pregnancy. Here is where the location of the pregnancy inside the uterus, date of pregnancy and the number of foetuses will be determined. If there are more than a single fetus, there will be a need to determine the type of multiple pregnancy. The earlier the scan is done, the more accurate these findings will be. The baby’s heartbeat will also be checked to determine if it is alive and well.
If you opt for a first trimester screening, the second scan needs to take place between 11 to 14 weeks of pregnancy. An ultrasound during this period can give you a risk assessment of chromosomal abnormalities.
The next one usually takes place between 18 to 22 weeks. Ideally, this should be done by a maternal fetal medicine specialist. During this time, the structure of the baby is scanned to ensure the baby has no physical abnormalities.
The next scan takes place at 28 weeks of pregnancy. During this scan, the location of the placenta is determined to ensure it is not blocking the birth passage.
The growth of the baby is also assessed to ensure it is growing on the correct graph. If it is not, you need to be referred to a maternal fetal medicine specialist.
The last scan is usually necessary at 36 weeks of pregnancy. This time, the size and the direction of the baby is determined. Your doctor will advise you on your chances of having a normal baby based on your other risk factors.
If you have the opportunity and funds, you can have an ultrasound examination during every visit to ensure your baby is growing in the normal graph and is well. This will give you reassurance that everything is normal.
This article is contributed by consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist, maternal fetal medicine Datuk Dr H. Krishna Kumar.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Pregnancy journey )
Also on site :
- SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg: When is liftoff?
- Google releases NotebookLM apps for Android and iOS
- Windows AI Development: New Capabilities and Tools (Build 2025)