Pregnancy is an important phase in a woman's life, and ensuring the mother's and baby's well-being is a top priority. An essential aspect of prenatal care is antenatal scans. An antenatal scan means monitoring the health of the mother and the baby in the womb.
What are Antenatal tests?
Early pregnancy scans means monitoring the health of the mother and child through various tests. They're done to make the pregnancy safer, check and assess the development of the foetus, and also screen for certain conditions.
Routine antenatal scans during pregnancy
The different types of antenatal tests are:
- Height, weight, and blood pressure check.
- Blood tests help assess factors like iron and haemoglobin levels, screening for infections like HIV and hepatitis B, and detecting genetic disorders like thalassemia.
- Urine tests and pap smear to screen for cervical abnormalities.
- Ultrasound exams confirm the baby's heartbeat, estimate the due date and detect any major structural abnormalities.
- Glucose screening to check for gestational diabetes.
- Group b streptococcus test to identify and prevent infection in newborns by administering antibiotics during labour.
Conclusion
Antenatal scans are essential to prenatal care and help ensure a healthy pregnancy. With the cost of medical care increasing exponentially in India, delivering a baby has become a costly affair. Maternity insurance will provide financial protection as well as peace of mind during this crucial phase of life.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only. Please consult a medical or nutrition professional before making any significant changes in your daily diet. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any impact or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.