Maternity Hospital in Erode

Good antenatal (pregnancy) care starts early. Book your first visit as soon as a home test is positive, ideally in the first trimester, so your due date and health can be checked and any risk can be caught early.

Your antenatal visits

Visits are usually about once a month until 28 weeks, every two weeks until 36 weeks, and weekly after that. Your doctor may ask you to come more often if your pregnancy needs closer watching.

Tests and scans

Your doctor will advise the blood tests, urine tests and ultrasound scans you need at each stage, for example:

• blood group and Rh factor, haemoglobin and iron levels
• blood sugar, to screen for gestational diabetes (usually between 24 and 28 weeks, earlier if you are at risk)
• thyroid and infection screening, as advised
• ultrasound scans to confirm the due date, check your baby’s development and monitor growth

Everyday care

Take folic acid, iron and calcium as prescribed, eat balanced home-cooked meals with enough protein, fruit, vegetables and water, walk daily unless told otherwise, and take the vaccines recommended in pregnancy. Avoid tobacco, alcohol and any medicine not prescribed for you.

Not sure of your due date? Use our free pregnancy due date calculator.

Bring to your first visit: previous medical and scan reports, a list of your medicines, the date of your last period and records of any earlier pregnancies.

The safest way for your baby to be born depends on your health, your baby’s position and how labour progresses. Dr. Jayanthi Prabakaran will explain your options during your antenatal visits, so there are no surprises in labour.

Care does not end at delivery. In the first weeks you and your baby need support to recover and settle in.

• Breastfeeding support. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is recommended. Ask for help early if latching is painful or you are worried about your milk supply.
• Your recovery. Care of stitches or the caesarean wound, bleeding, pain relief, rest and nutrition.
• Your emotional health. Feeling low or tearful in the first two weeks is common. Tell your doctor if it lasts or feels severe.
• Newborn care. Feeding, sleep, cord care, jaundice and the vaccination schedule.
• Family planning. Safe ways to space your next pregnancy, discussed at your postnatal checkup, usually around six weeks after delivery.

More about postnatal care