IMPORTANCE OF ANTENATAL CARE CLINIC.

INTRODUCTION

Ever wondered what an Antenatal clinic is? Well here is your answer.

Ante- means 'before'
Natal- means 'birth'
Antenatal - means 'before birth'
Antenatal care- means the health care a pregnant woman receives before she gives birth. 
Antenatal care clinic- means a place where such health care is ensured.


WHAT DOES ANTENATAL CARE STANDS TO ACHIEVE?

The priority of Antenatal care is to make pregnancy and delivery a safe and satisfying experience for both the mother and the baby and handing over a healthy baby to a healthy and happy mother. This is achieved by; 

1. Providing essential health education to pregnant women on danger signs of pregnancy, adequate nutrition in pregnancy, suitable exercises in pregnancy among others.

2. Early detection of potential problems (complications) during pregnancy with adequate and appropriate treatment.  

3. Averting the morbidity (disease) and mortality (death) associated with pregnancy and child birth through appropriate medical and pharmaceutical interventions. 

4. Providing safe delivery for mother and baby. 

WHEN SHOULD I VISIT THE ANTENATAL CLINIC?

When you are pregnant or when you suspect pregnancy. 

WHEN SHOULD I SUSPECT PREGNANCY?

You should suspect pregnancy if; 

1. If you miss your period after having unprotected sexual intercourse.
2. If urine strip for pregnancy test turn out postive.

HOW WILL I ACCESS ANTENATAL CARE CLINIC

All you have to do is to visit ANY (Primary) Healthcare Centre near you. From there you will be given an appointment (i.e a date) to come and register at the antenatal clinic. 

WHAT AND WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ANTENATAL CARE CLINIC

At your first ANC visit, your pregnancy will be booked and this is referred to as the "booking clinic". During your consultation, you will asked questions relating to this pregnancy and previous pregnancies, their outcomes, as well as previous abortion (if you've undergone any). Your doctor will also want to know if you have any ailment like hypertension, diabetes mellitus ... among other questions and then you will be examined. Your doctor will also check and record the following parameters known to them as "booking parameters" while examining you.

1. You weight
2. You height
3. You blood pressure

Then the following investigations will be ordered; 

1. A test to confirm your pregnancy would be ordered (Ultrasound scan).

AN ULTRASOUND SCAN IN PROGRESS.

2. Test to determine the amount of Red blood cells (I.e oxygen carrying cells) in your blood will be ordered. The significance of this is that if you have low oxygen carrying cells in your body, enough oxygen will not get to the your developing baby and the baby WILL NOT develop very well. This test is called HEMATOCRIT TEST or PACKED CELL VOLUME (PCV).

PCV/HEMATOCRIT TEST

3. Your urine will be analysed by a test called urinalysis (urine+analysins). looking out for substance which should not be there in your urine e.g protein, glucose, ... 

URINALYSIS STRIP AND BOTTLE FOR URINALYSIS.

4. Tests to know your blood blood and genotype will be ordered. 

5. Screening test for infectious diseases like hepatitis, HIV, ... will be ordered.

The essence of this is to determine whether your pregnancy is HIGH RISK or LOW RISK. This will guide the Healthcare giver on the type of antenatal care that will best suite you to make pregnancy and delivery a safe and satisfying experience for you and your baby and handing over a healthy baby to a healthy and happy you.

Subsequent appointment date will be given based on this.

WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OF THIS ANC TO ME AND MY UNBORN BABY. 

Importance of ANC to the Pregnant Woman

1. Prevention and treatment of maternal morbidity (I.e diseases in the mother) that can arise as a result of pregnancy. E.g Hypertension (pregnancy induced hypertension), Diabetes mellitus (Gestational diabetes mellitus), Anemia. 

2. Education of pregnant women on the do's and don'ts in pregnancy.

3. Quality education on nutrition, exercise and birth preparedness (labour and delivery preparation).

Importance of ANC to the unborn child (fetus)

1. Prevents transmission of infectious diseases from the mother to the fetus. E.g HIV, HEPATITIS, RUBELLA.

2. Timely detection of fetal distress and intervention. 

3. Timely detection of fetal growth retardation with intervention.

CONCLUSION
The only way endorsed by Doctors worldwide as to having a satisfying pregnancy experience alongside a safe delivery is through the Antenatal Care. The earlier in pregnancy you register for Antenatal Care, the better for and your baby. Endeavour to reach out to a pregnant woman around you TODAY. Thank you.