Is your newborn baby healthy? What do you need to know about a newborn when going to the hospital?

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Healthy newborn: general information, birth weight, concepts of premature and post-term newborn

Considered healthy newborn, born at 37 - 42 weeks, with a birth weight of 2.5 - 4.0 kg, who does not require resuscitation and does not detect any physical defects upon first examination by a neonatologist in the delivery room.

If a child was born at 36 weeks and 6 days or earlier, he is considered premature, if more than 42 full weeks - post-term. Gestational age is calculated from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period and is measured in weeks. Conditions of prematurity and postmaturity are often associated with many different diseases, including life-threatening ones, so such children must be observed by an experienced neonatologist.

Children weighing less than 2.5 kg at birth are small, and those weighing more than 4 kg are large. Even if the baby was born on time, its weight may not be normal. Such children also require closer attention and in-depth examination.

Height, circumference of the head and chest of the newborn

In addition to body weight, in the delivery room a newborn is measured using a stadiometer and a measuring tape to measure the body length and circumference of the head and chest. These indicators make it possible to assess the harmony of the child’s physical development, identify some hereditary diseases, endocrine pathology and damage to the central nervous system.

Normally, the height of a newborn at birth is 45-56 cm. On average, about 50 cm. It is logical that premature babies have a shorter height - this is not a sign of inharmonious development.

The circumference of the chest is measured with a measuring tape, which is placed behind the corners of the shoulder blades (the lowest point of the shoulder blades), and in front above the nipples. Normal values for the chest circumference of a full-term newborn are 33-35 cm.

To measure the circumference of the head, you need to place a centimeter tape at the back of the most protruding point of the back of the head, and in front, hold it directly above the eyebrows. Normally, this figure is 33 - 37.5 cm; it should not exceed the chest circumference by more than 2-4 cm. Measuring the head is an indispensable procedure in diagnosing diseases of the central nervous system. During the first week of life, the head must be measured every day. Normally, during the first month of life, the head grows no more than 3-4 cm; if the head grows more intensively (more than 0.3 - 0.5 cm per day), this indicates the development of hydrocephalus, a very serious disease. This rule does not work for children in the first days of life. During the first 24 hours, the circumference of the head may increase by 1.0 - 1.5 cm - this is the head regaining its normal shape after passing through the narrow birth canal.

Newborn's first cry

Immediately after birth, the baby freezes for a few seconds and does not respond to any external stimuli. This state is called “catharsis” of the newborn. Some philosophers believe that it is at this moment that a soul is implanted in a child. After which the newborn takes his first breath and makes his first cry. The first cry of a newborn should be loud and emotional. And most importantly, the baby should cry within the first 30 seconds after birth. If this does not happen, he needs resuscitation.

Apgar score

At the end of the first and fifth minutes of a child’s life, a neonatologist evaluates the child’s condition using the Apgar scale based on 5 signs: skin color, breathing, heartbeat, muscle tone and reflexes. The maximum possible score is 10 points. A newborn with an Apgar score greater than or equal to 7/7 is considered healthy. If the score is lower, the child requires immediate resuscitation. This means he may need additional oxygen for breathing, artificial ventilation and chest compressions. In these cases, the baby is weaned from the mother and the entire complex of resuscitation measures continues until the child’s condition stabilizes.

Newborn's first meeting with mother: skin-to-skin contact

Immediately after birth, a healthy newborn is wiped dry with a diaper, put on a hat and socks to prevent heat loss, and placed on the mother’s stomach. Mother and child are covered with a common blanket, so that there is skin-to-skin contact between them. Such close contact should last at least 1.5-2 hours. All necessary procedures related to the newborn’s first toilet can be postponed, and the first examination by a neonatologist takes place directly on the mother’s chest. It has been reliably proven that this simple procedure reduces the incidence of illness during the newborn period, promotes milk production in the mother and the development of maternal instinct.

Newborn's first feeding

While on the mother's stomach, the newborn usually finds the breast independently or with the help of a midwife within the first half hour and begins to suck. The first feeding should not be forced: the breast should be offered urgently, but not aggressively. Some babies are not ready to start eating right away; just holding them at the breast is enough.

Newborn body temperature

The body temperature of a newborn is usually measured 15 minutes after birth, and then 2 hours later, when mother and child have already been transferred to a shared ward. A body temperature of 36.5-37 C is considered normal. In the first hours after birth, the child is prone to hypothermia. To avoid this, a newborn should always wear a hat and socks. Loose clothing and skin-to-skin contact will also help keep you warm. Tight swaddling and bathing, on the contrary, contribute to hypothermia of the newborn, so these practices have already been abandoned in many maternity hospitals.
In the next 24 hours, the child is more prone to overheating. If a newborn has a fever, the first thing that needs to be assessed is: is he dressed too warmly?

Newborn skin color

Immediately after birth, the newborn's skin has a bluish tint. The first breath saturates the blood with oxygen and the skin begins to turn pink. In the first hours of life, a slight blue discoloration of the hands and feet may persist, which gradually disappears. After an hour and a half, many newborns' skin turns bright red. This is not a pathology, but is associated with the peculiarities of capillary development. In full-term newborns, the redness disappears on the second day, in premature newborns it lasts longer. The most frightening sign is pale skin. White skin in newborns is always a serious pathology.

Head shape and fontanel

A newborn's head is often asymmetrical (only babies born by cesarean section can boast of a perfectly straight head). Often a large dense lump is noticeable on it. This is the so-called “birth tumor”. It will resolve on its own in a few days without any treatment. Single points of hemorrhage on the birth tumor are not a cause for concern. The same small hemorrhages can appear in the eyes, especially if the birth was long and difficult. They also go away on their own over time.

Just above the forehead, along the midline of the head, a newborn has a soft, pliable area - a large fontanel. In this place, the cranial vault has not yet completely ossified. The normal size of a large fontanel is 1-3 cm. A larger fontanel can occur in premature, immature children, as well as with increased intracranial pressure (in this case it also bulges). Children with a small fontanel usually develop normally, only in some cases it leads to the development of a neurological problem. Some neuropediatricians prescribe such children to “cry for 5 minutes – 3 times a day.” During crying, intracranial pressure increases and the bones of the skull “diverge,” promoting the growth of the head.

Newborn breathing

The newborn breathes irregularly. There may be no breathing for a few seconds and then a series of very rapid breathing movements. Sometimes the child takes a convulsive breath, followed by a noisy long exhalation. Over time, such breathing becomes less and less common. The normal respiratory rate is 30-60 per minute. A number of respirations greater than 60 per minute indicates severe lung damage.

The concept of newborn tone: “fetal position” and hypotonicity

Normally, the child’s arms and legs are in a half-bent position, symmetrical, the hands are clenched into fists, the head is somewhat brought towards the body; this is the “fetal position”, characteristic of the first months of life.
If the child is lethargic, “soft”, arms and legs hang freely, this is an unfavorable symptom called “muscular hypotonia”. It can be found in diseases of the nervous system, infections of the newborn and other serious diseases.

Sleep and wakefulness

A newborn baby sleeps up to 20 hours a day. Periods of wakefulness are usually limited to feedings. The awakened child chaotically moves his arms and legs. The eyes may be closed for the first few days. If they are open, the eyeballs move as if the child wants to fixate his gaze, but he cannot. Sometimes you can notice a slight strabismus, which goes away on its own by the end of the first week and does not require treatment.

First stool and urination

A baby's first stool is called meconium. It is viscous, black, and resembles tar. Normally, meconium should pass on the first day; if the meconium does not pass, doctors choose a wait-and-see approach on the second day. If the intestines do not empty even then, the child is further examined to identify the causes of this pathological condition and its correction. Very rarely, healthy children pass meconium on the third day.

Sometimes meconium passes prematurely in the womb. In this case, gynecologists talk about “dirty amniotic fluid.” This often occurs with intrauterine infection of the fetus and if the mother received narcotic painkillers or “medicated sleep” during childbirth.
This is a rather dangerous condition, since meconium can enter the respiratory tract and disrupt the breathing activity of the newborn.

In the first 3 days, the newborn urinates rarely, 2-4 times a day. The first urination usually occurs between 12 and 24 hours of life. Gradually, the number of urinations increases, reaching 20-25 times by the 7-10th day of life.

What if the newborn is sick?

What should I do if my newborn does not meet the health criteria above? Do not panic! Many diseases of the newborn period, diagnosed in time and correctly treated, go away without leaving consequences for the unborn child. Trust the health of your children to qualified specialists, but do not forget about your role. Any neonatologist will confirm that 90% of success in treating a newborn is proper care, care and attention from the mother and other loved ones, and only 10% falls on the shoulders of a specialist.

Health – what is it? Definition of health according to WHO.

The World Health Organization (WHO) gives a very wise, philosophical definition of the concept of “health”. According to WHO, health is not only the absence of physical defects and diseases, but a state of complete physical, psychological and social well-being. WHO experts focus on the second part of the definition and emphasize that the love, care and attention of loved ones are indispensable in maintaining the health of children. Even a sick child, surrounded by maternal affection, has a chance to feel healthy.

Before use, you should consult a specialist.

Instructions

Monitor your condition. Morning sickness, drowsiness, aversion to certain foods, sensitivity to odors, swelling and tenderness of the mammary glands - these signs indirectly confirm both the presence of pregnancy and its development. Although the disappearance of any of the symptoms or their combination in itself does not mean that it is, this fact should alert you.

If your breasts have decreased in size, toxicosis has disappeared, and you do not feel the malaise that has haunted you in recent weeks, consult a doctor to make sure it is progressing. Perhaps these changes turn out to be a feature of your body, but everything is fine with the baby.

From the moment a fertilized egg enters the uterine cavity, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) can be detected in a woman’s body - a pregnancy hormone produced by the tissue of the chorion - the embryonic membrane on the basis of which the placenta is formed. From 1 to 11 weeks, the level of hCG in a woman’s blood constantly increases, and from 11-16 weeks it begins to gradually decrease, since by this time it is converted into the placenta.

To monitor the development of pregnancy for up to 16 weeks, periodically donate blood to determine the level of hCG. If your antenatal clinic does not perform such an analysis, contact a specialized medical center or laboratory. A blood test for hCG is taken on an empty stomach: in the morning or during the day, but not earlier than 2 hours after a meal.

With regular visits to your obstetrician-gynecologist, you will be able to track the development of your pregnancy by objective signs: an increase in the height of the uterine fundus and abdominal circumference, which may not be noticeable to you. When the doctor takes these measurements, ask them to tell you their values, write them down and compare them with previous values.

If your doctor has a fetal doppler in his arsenal, you will be able to listen to your baby’s heartbeat from the 12th week - a reliable sign of a developing pregnancy. Of course, if you have the means, you can purchase this device for personal use and regularly monitor the child’s condition, but keep in mind that it is not cheap.

The optimal way to determine progressing pregnancy is ultrasound examination (ultrasound). After 5-6 obstetric weeks, the doctor can see the heartbeat of the embryo. Therefore, if you want to make sure that your pregnancy is developing in accordance with the term, contact your antenatal clinic or other medical institution with an ultrasound specialist. In the medical literature and among practicing doctors, there is no consensus on how often an ultrasound can be done, but if there are doubts about the correct course of pregnancy, it is better to have it done.

From about 18-22 weeks, the expectant mother begins to feel fetal movements. From this time on, no additional research will be required: record the baby’s movements every day, and carry out all the necessary tests, ultrasound and determination of the baby’s heart rate as planned.

Any woman expecting the birth of a son or daughter, sincerely wishes her baby to be healthy. Unfortunately, sometimes it happens that a child is born with severe disabilities, which dooms him to suffering and his parents to a lot of worries. As a result, many couples are wondering: how to give birth to a healthy child?

Modern medicine and the responsibility of the couple in matters of family planning will contribute to successful conception, a successful pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby.

Problems of reproduction in the modern world

Statistics show that today, when trying to reproduce healthy offspring, humanity faces many problems:

15% of married couples of reproductive age in Russia are infertile;
15 - 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage;
3% is the number of children in the world out of the total number of newborns born with disabilities.

In some cases, this statistics is due to the inattention of future parents, and especially mothers, to their health. A number of other sad events are the result of an unfavorable combination of circumstances.

At the beginning of the 20th century, reproductive age was considered to be up to 30 years. The overall life expectancy and reproductive age of humanity has increased significantly since then. In this regard, many women postpone having children in order to build a career and live for themselves, hoping that modern medicine will help them give birth in adulthood. However, reproductive technologies sometimes cannot solve all the problems that appear with age.

According to statistics, a healthy 30-year-old woman has about a 20% chance of becoming pregnant in one menstrual cycle. At age 40, this probability decreases to 5%. 35 years is a critical point, after which a sharp decline in fertility begins. The fact is that a woman is endowed with a certain supply of eggs from birth. Having reached puberty, a girl begins to lose one of them every month. Every year, the supply of eggs becomes smaller, and those eggs that remain are no longer as active. Decreased egg quality has an adverse effect on the viability of the embryo and also reduces the chance of conception.

Of course, you can find examples of women giving birth at the age of 45, but it is worth remembering that for many of them pregnancy is very difficult, with edema, high blood pressure and other pathological conditions. Giving birth to a healthy baby also becomes more difficult: there is a high chance that the baby will have developmental defects or chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome.

Men's ability to bear children is less affected by time. This is explained by the fact that new sperm are produced in a man’s testicles regularly. Although the approach of old age also has a negative impact on reproductive function in men. There is less seminal fluid, and the sperm in it are no longer so mobile. Many men experience a decrease in testosterone levels in their blood as they age. This leads to a decrease in sexual activity.

However, young age is not a guarantee that everything will work out successfully on its own. Many young parents, without knowing it, are carriers of genetic diseases that can interfere with conception and the favorable course of pregnancy. And modern life, especially in big cities, undermines the health of young people.

How to give birth to a healthy child in conditions of poor ecology and chronic stress? What needs to be done to ensure that pregnancy in adulthood or in the presence of chronic diseases leads to the desired result? First of all, you should not neglect the issues of planning a healthy family.

Preparing for pregnancy

It is important to start planning your pregnancy long before conception. Giving up bad habits and switching to proper nutrition is not enough to be confident in your health and the health of your unborn baby. Both parents should be examined to detect problems that may adversely affect their reproductive function and the health of the child.

Most often, preparation for pregnancy begins with a woman visiting a gynecologist. To exclude abnormalities in the organs of the reproductive system, a routine examination and ultrasound examination (ultrasound) are performed. A check is carried out for the presence of oncology, and smears are taken for cytology. In some cases, the doctor may recommend consultation with other specialists - a neurologist, ophthalmologist, cardiologist, etc.

In addition to a thorough examination of the woman, an examination of the partner is also required. Married couples must be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Many infections (mycoplasmosis, chlamydia, etc.) have an adverse effect on the development of the fetus and can lead to its death. With timely diagnosis and proper treatment, they can be quickly suppressed. Also, future parents should know their blood type compatibility in order to exclude the possibility of rejection of the fetus by the mother's body.

For spouses who want to give birth to a healthy child, it is not superfluous to consult a geneticist. The specialist will conduct a survey of future parents in order to get a complete picture of their health and assess their heredity. If the doctor has any doubts, he can prescribe a carrier test for gene mutations. Many of them may not affect the health of the parent, but can lead to serious defects in the baby, sometimes incompatible with life. Knowing about the presence of chromosomal rearrangements in the father or mother, it will be easier for the doctor to create a therapeutic course that will increase the chances of successfully conceiving, carrying and giving birth to a healthy child.

Prenatal diagnosis

Let’s say that the preparation for pregnancy was successful: the parents underwent the necessary examinations and received the long-awaited confirmation from the doctor that the woman can become pregnant and give birth to a healthy child.

After conception, a crucial period begins—pregnancy. Carrying a child requires special attention to health and regular visits to the doctor. The specialist will monitor the condition of the pregnant woman and fetus through routine examinations and tests. Such control helps prevent possible complications during pregnancy.

Modern prenatal diagnostics provides a wide range of techniques that help to learn about fetal pathologies long before the birth of the child. Each trimester of pregnancy is accompanied by a series of examinations called screening. These examinations make it possible to determine whether fetal development corresponds to norms, as well as to identify the presence of incurable abnormalities of gene origin. All women are required to undergo it, but pregnant women over 35 years of age should be especially attentive to it.

In the first trimester, it is most optimal to screen between 11 and 13 weeks of pregnancy. First, an ultrasound is performed. The main goal of this method at this stage is to assess how successfully the development of the fetus is proceeding according to the stage of pregnancy, and also to determine the thickness of the nuchal space (TN) of the embryo. The collar space is the area in the child’s neck (between the skin and soft tissues) where fluid accumulates. A TVP value that exceeds the norm may be evidence of fetal developmental abnormalities, including the presence of Down syndrome.

However, a qualified specialist will not give unambiguous conclusions based on the ultrasound results. Conclusions are drawn based on comprehensive research. After an ultrasound, at 10–13 weeks, a blood test is performed to determine the concentration of certain biological markers in it, in the first trimester these are PAPP-A and hCG. Elevated or decreased levels of these markers in the blood can also be a sign of developmental problems. Further, based on a combination of ultrasound and biochemical analysis data, a special program calculates the risk of genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome and Edwards syndrome.

Second trimester screening studies are carried out at 16-20 weeks. A blood test this time is taken to measure the levels of AFP, hCG and free estriol. Taking into account the results of the ultrasound and the first screening, new data are calculated on the possible risk of having a child with pathologies.

The second ultrasound is performed at 20-24 weeks. The specialist studies the presence, correct location and structure of all the child’s organs. Much attention is paid to the condition of the mother's provisional organs (umbilical cord, placenta, amniotic fluid), and the condition of the cervix.

Screenings do not make it possible to make specific diagnoses, but only reveal the likelihood that the baby will have any chromosomal abnormalities. In cases where the risk of pathology is high, the pregnant woman is given a referral to undergo invasive diagnostics. Each stage of pregnancy has its own method of invasive research: chorionic villus biopsy (9.5 - 12 weeks), amniocentesis (16 - 18 weeks), cordocentesis (22 - 25 weeks). Each of these examinations involves surgical intervention into the mother's body through a puncture. This is done in order to take material that contains fetal DNA. All these methods are highly accurate (about 99%), but are stressful for the mother and carry a small risk of complications (bleeding, leakage of amniotic fluid, etc.). In 1 - 2% of cases, the procedure can cause a miscarriage.

Third trimester screening includes ultrasound, which detects malformations of the child, which tend to manifest themselves in later stages. Also, between 30 and 34 weeks, Doppler ultrasound is performed, a type of ultrasound that helps assess blood flow in the baby’s vessels, in the uterus and placenta.

New developments in prenatal diagnostics offer expectant mothers easier ways to calculate the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. For example, the non-invasive DNA test Panorama is effective already at 9 weeks, has an accuracy of more than 99%, and can detect a wide range of genetic pathologies in the fetus: Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome, sex chromosome pathologies and a number of other abnormalities. The test only involves taking blood from a vein from the pregnant woman. From the resulting material, fetal DNA will be isolated using molecular technologies, which will be studied for the presence of gene rearrangements and chromosomal abnormalities. This method is much more accurate than standard screening and is absolutely safe for the mother and fetus, unlike invasive diagnostics.

If a woman wants to give birth to a healthy child, then she should not neglect prenatal diagnosis. Thanks to these studies, the number of newborns with severe illnesses is significantly lower than it could be. After receiving the diagnostic results and knowing what her chances are of having a healthy baby, the woman, together with her family and her doctor, can decide whether to continue the pregnancy. A non-invasive prenatal test can provide this information very early on, which means that if the results are disappointing, it will be much safer to have an abortion. In some cases, if screening reveals any pathologies, the doctor can prescribe adequate therapy that will help increase the likelihood of a healthy baby being born.

Pregnancy after abortion or fetal death

Sad statistics show that about 21% of pregnancies around the world are terminated artificially. Potential mothers seek an abortion both for medical reasons and due to current life circumstances and reluctance to have children. It is no secret that abortion has extremely adverse effects on health. Every fifth woman becomes a victim of infertility due to an interrupted first pregnancy. Classic instrumental abortion is especially dangerous, when the uterus is scraped out under general anesthesia; it can cause irreparable injury to the reproductive organs. Vacuum and medical abortions, which are performed in the early stages, carry with them much fewer complications.

However, there are no absolutely safe abortions. Any artificial termination of pregnancy entails a hormonal imbalance, especially due to a disruption in the production of progesterone, which is responsible for maintaining pregnancy in its early stages. Many women experience miscarriages precisely because they had an abortion in the past.

Is it possible to get pregnant and give birth to a healthy child after an abortion? The answer to this question in many cases will be positive, but it is worth knowing that the approach to pregnancy planning should be as competent and responsible as possible. Of course, much will depend on the individual characteristics of the woman and how severe the consequences of the previous abortion were. Experts recommend planning your next pregnancy no earlier than six months later.

Sometimes it happens that a pregnancy is terminated against the will of the woman. Most often this becomes a consequence of fetal death. To prevent repeated spontaneous abortion, it is worth finding out what are the reasons for this situation?

To draw up a treatment plan and prepare for the next pregnancy, the abortive material obtained by curettage is sent for histological examination. It is best that the material be examined from a genetic point of view. This will allow you to make a more accurate prognosis for future pregnancy.

Karyotyping is used as a genetic study, which involves studying the chromosome set of the fetus. The most accurate study of abortive material will be chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), which can give the clearest picture of what genetic failures led to dire consequences.

After a frozen pregnancy, both the man and the woman must undergo a full examination, ranging from tests for sexually transmitted diseases to consultation with a geneticist. Usually, doctors recommend postponing planning for a second pregnancy for six months so that the mother’s body recovers and both spouses can undergo the prescribed treatment.

The prognosis for women who have had one frozen pregnancy is quite optimistic: in 80-90% of cases they are able to become pregnant, carry and give birth to a healthy child in the next pregnancy.

If a woman has experienced several missed pregnancies in a row, she may be diagnosed with “recurrent miscarriage.” Repeatedly frozen pregnancy, as it were, “programs” the body for subsequent failures. This case requires an extremely careful approach and long-term treatment. This will increase the couple's chances of having an heir.

Lifestyle of future parents

How to give birth to a healthy baby? Of course, in addition to undergoing the necessary examinations, you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle before and during pregnancy. About two months before conception, expectant parents need to avoid stress, overwork, ARVI and flu. It is worth completely eliminating alcohol and smoking.

A balanced diet is extremely important for a pregnant woman. You need to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Fish and meat should be present in the diet daily, because they are irreplaceable suppliers of protein. Cottage cheese, kefir, and natural yoghurts will provide the mother’s body with calcium, which is necessary for the formation of fetal bones and teeth. The consumption of sweets, flour, salty, fatty, carbonated drinks should be seriously limited. Gaining excess weight has a very adverse effect on the course of pregnancy. Strong tea and coffee can increase blood pressure and put unnecessary strain on the heart. It would be wiser to replace them with natural juices.

Do not forget about moderate physical activity, it will help not only stay in shape, but also prepare for childbirth. A sedentary lifestyle will not be beneficial for either the woman or the baby. Today, there are many sets of exercises for pregnant women; there are many special groups where you can do yoga or water aerobics.

To summarize, we can say that the expectant mother needs to approach pregnancy planning wisely, visit a doctor and undergo all the necessary tests, eat right, and combine activity and rest in a balanced manner. Following these recommendations will help maximize your chances of having a healthy baby.

Free consultation on the results of prenatal diagnostics

geneticist

Kyiv Yulia Kirillovna

If you have:

questions arose regarding the results of prenatal diagnostics;
poor screening results

we are offering to you sign up for a free consultation with a geneticist*

*consultation is carried out for residents of any region of Russia via the Internet. For residents of Moscow and the Moscow region, personal consultation is possible (bring with you a passport and a valid compulsory medical insurance policy)

How can you know that you are having a healthy pregnancy and that your baby is healthy and developing normally? Some people do not want to undergo initial tests or perinatal diagnostics because they are afraid that the tests may be bad and they will have to have an abortion. In some cases, it happens and it is important to determine this in time.

This is a personal decision and it is important to understand the benefits of using perinatal diagnostic tests that have nothing to do with abortion.

For example, it is very important to know about the health of your child before birth in order to have time to prepare psychologically.

Another advantage, knowing in advance about the child’s health condition, you can ensure, if necessary, constant supervision by an obstetrician and pediatrician, especially so that they are present at the moment of the baby’s birth. This is necessary for better care of the child.

What is the difference between a screening test and a diagnostic test during pregnancy?

The screening test consists of an ultrasound scan at the twelfth week of pregnancy and fetal measuring manipulations;
The collar space (the back of the child’s head) is determined;
Sensation of the presence of the nasal bone in the child;
Regurgitation of flow in the center of the tricuspid valve;
Blood tests

You will simply receive information that your child may have a certain problem.

For example, based on the mother's age and a screening test, the doctor may assume that there is a possibility of having a baby with Down syndrome and based on this decision, they will suggest that the mother undergo a diagnostic test, such as chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis.

The main advantage of screening tests is that they will not bring any harm to the expectant mother and baby.

Diagnostic tests such as chorionic villus sampling or amnocentesis can determine with greater certainty whether your baby has a particular problem. For example, amniocentosis occurs as follows: a needle is inserted into the uterus to obtain 20 cc of amniotic fluid, which surrounds the baby.

This liquid is processed in a genetics laboratory and determines your child's condition with 99% accuracy. That is, it will determine Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities.

The main disadvantage of these invasive diagnostic tests is that there is a small risk of spontaneous abortion. The chances of spontaneous abortion depend on test results and the week of pregnancy.

It is important to note that these days these tests are run simultaneously. Ultrasound is used to monitor the passage of the needle into the uterine cavity, preventing injury to the baby, thereby significantly reducing the risk.

And remember that in most cases, a healthy pregnancy depends on what yours was like and the birth.

To have a healthy pregnancy you need to do certain things. During pregnancy, changes occur in the body and in emotions and you need to know how to act correctly in certain cases.

Be sure to include additional vitamins and minerals in your diet by talking to your doctor first.

Here are some simple tips for a healthy pregnancy:

Be active. Talk to your doctor about who you may be following. These should be simple exercises that will not harm the child, such as swimming or walking. You should not run or dance too vigorously.
Ideal weight. Eat only healthy, wholesome foods. Following a diet is beneficial, but it should not lead to weight loss. Read about what your weight should be during pregnancy here. Eat plenty of whole grains, which help control cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Drink plenty of water to avoid accumulating toxins. Proper drinking of water helps to take proper care of your skin during pregnancy. More details here
Vitamins. During the first 3 months of pregnancy, it is important to take vitamins, including folic acid, to help the baby's brain development and neurological function.

Every woman in the second trimester of pregnancy is required to undergo an ultrasound. It is done to find out whether the baby is developing correctly, as well as to determine the position of the placenta in the uterus. This type of ultrasound is called anatomical. At the request of the parents, during the study it is possible to determine the sex of the child or obtain an image of the baby. You can get an ultrasound done at the AltraVita clinic.

How is an anatomical ultrasound performed?

During the study, the doctor observes different organs of the fetus one by one to ensure their integrity and the absence of developmental anomalies. The image is displayed on the monitor. Without special knowledge, it is impossible to understand anything in these pictures, so it is pointless for parents to look at them. Using anatomical ultrasound, a specialist can identify many diseases.

Diagnosis begins with examination of the fetal head. The doctor looks at its shape and structure. Using ultrasound, it is possible to detect abnormalities in brain development. You can see a “cleft lip” on the face, but this defect is not always visible.

Diagnostics and evaluation of the heart condition are ongoing. The doctor looks to see if the chambers - the ventricles and atria - are the same size. As the heart beats, the valves must open and close with each beat. The condition of the large blood vessels that enter and exit the heart is also assessed.

After this, the doctor examines the following organs.

Stomach. It must be full because the baby swallows amniotic fluid.
Kidneys. First of all, they look to see if they are located in the right place. Determine whether there are any obstacles in the path of urine, which should freely penetrate into the bladder.
Limbs. The doctor assesses their condition and counts the number of fingers, if possible.

The ultrasound ends with an assessment of the condition and location of the umbilical cord, placenta, and amniotic fluid.

What diseases can be identified?

There are many diseases that can be detected in the second trimester of pregnancy using ultrasound. Below is a list of such diseases (the probability of their identification as a percentage is indicated in parentheses):

absence of brain (100%);
hydrocele of the brain (62-100%);
spina bifida (87%);
absence of kidneys or impaired development of kidneys (85%);
absence or abnormal development of limbs (90%);
heart defects (48%);
pathological holes in the diaphragm (25-85%);
abnormal development of the abdominal wall (86%).

Unfortunately, pathology of fetal development, even if it occurs, is not always determined. The effectiveness of diagnostics depends on the availability of modern equipment for ultrasound, but most importantly - on the professionalism and experience of the doctor who conducts the examination.

There are also diseases in which pathological changes in the internal organs will become visible later in pregnancy, or after the birth of the child.

What can be done if a pathology is detected?

If a doctor identifies a pathology on an ultrasound that poses a threat to the health or life of the baby, he refers the future parents for consultation. The married couple is informed of all the risks and consequences of the detected anomaly. They are offered options for solving the problem:

Abortion. Indicated for severe developmental anomalies, when they are incompatible with life or make the child handicapped.
Operation. Many defects can be eliminated through surgical treatment. The baby is operated on in utero or shortly after birth.

It is very important to identify organic pathology in the fetus as early as possible, before the birth of the child. Therefore, under no circumstances neglect performing an ultrasound in the second trimester, and undergo diagnostics only from experienced specialists.

Material provided by the site altravita-ivf.ru

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