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Antenatal Care

August 31, 2026 0Comment

Good pregnancy care is mostly about catching things early

Most pregnancies are uncomplicated. The purpose of antenatal care is to make sure yours stays that way — and to catch the problems that can be managed easily if found early and become dangerous if missed. Anaemia, gestational diabetes, rising blood pressure, poor fetal growth: all of these are treatable when identified in time.

The WHO recommends a minimum of eight antenatal contacts through pregnancy. In practice we usually see women more often than that, particularly in the third trimester.

Your visit schedule

Stage	Frequency	Main focus
Booking visit (6–10 weeks)	First visit	Confirm pregnancy and dates, full history, baseline bloods, folic acid
11–14 weeks	1 visit	Dating and nuchal translucency scan, first-trimester screening
16–20 weeks	Every 4 weeks	Blood pressure, weight, urine, fetal heartbeat
18–22 weeks	1 visit	Anomaly scan — detailed check of the baby’s structure
24–28 weeks	Every 4 weeks	Gestational diabetes screening, anaemia check, anti-D if needed
28–36 weeks	Every 2 weeks	Growth monitoring, position, blood pressure, tetanus vaccination
36 weeks–delivery	Weekly	Presentation, growth scan, birth plan, signs of labour

What each visit includes

• Blood pressure and weight
• Urine test for protein and sugar
• Fundal height measurement (from around 24 weeks)
• Fetal heartbeat
• Baby’s position and movements
• Your symptoms, questions and concerns — this is the part that gets skipped elsewhere and should not be

Tests and scans we arrange

Blood tests: complete blood count, blood group and Rh factor, blood sugar, thyroid function, hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis (VDRL), rubella immunity, urine culture.

Ultrasound scans: dating scan (6–10 weeks), NT scan (11–14 weeks), anomaly scan (18–22 weeks), growth scans (28–36 weeks), and Doppler studies where growth or blood flow needs closer monitoring.

Screening: first-trimester combined screening, and where indicated NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) or diagnostic testing. Our genetic testing and fetal medicine services support this directly.

Vaccination: tetanus (TT/Td) as per the national schedule, and influenza vaccination where appropriate.

Nutrition and supplements

• Folic acid — 400 mcg daily, ideally from before conception through the first 12 weeks, to reduce neural tube defects
• Iron and calcium — routinely recommended in the Bangladeshi context, where anaemia and low calcium intake are common
• Vitamin D — deficiency is widespread; we check and supplement where needed
• Protein and iron-rich foods — fish, eggs, meat, lentils, dark leafy greens
• Avoid — raw or undercooked fish and eggs, unpasteurised dairy, excess caffeine, all alcohol and tobacco, and any medicine not cleared by your doctor
• Weight gain — typically 11–16 kg for a woman starting at a healthy weight; different if you are underweight or overweight at booking

Warning signs — call us immediately

• Vaginal bleeding at any stage
• Severe or persistent headache, blurred vision or flashing lights
• Swelling of the face and hands
• Severe upper abdominal pain
• Reduced or absent fetal movements after 28 weeks
• Fluid leaking from the vagina
• High fever
• Persistent vomiting and inability to keep fluids down
• Painful, burning urination

Frequently asked questions

When should I have my first pregnancy check-up? As soon as you have a positive test — ideally by 6–8 weeks. The early visit confirms the pregnancy is in the right place, establishes accurate dates, and starts folic acid.

How many ultrasounds are safe in pregnancy? Ultrasound has no known harmful effects at diagnostic levels. A typical pregnancy involves 3–5 scans. We scan when there is a clinical reason, not for entertainment.

I conceived through IVF — is my care different? Somewhat. IVF pregnancies are monitored more closely in the first trimester, and we continue any luteal support your cycle required. If you conceived through our fertility programme, your history is already with us — one of the practical advantages of staying in the same centre.

Can I travel or fly during pregnancy? Usually yes, most comfortably in the second trimester. See our detailed guide on air travel in pregnancy →

Can I keep working, exercising and fasting? Working and moderate exercise — usually yes and actively encouraged. Fasting during Ramadan is an individual decision that depends on your stage of pregnancy, blood sugar and general health; please discuss it with us rather than deciding alone.