Antenatal Care

Antenatal care, also known as prenatal care or prenatal checkup, involves comprehensive monitoring and checkup of mother and baby during pregnancy. In Singapore, it starts with the first pregnancy checkup and continues until delivery and ensures the health and well-being of mother and baby throughout pregnancy. 

Most women only realise they are pregnant when they start to notice subtle signs such as a missed period or nausea, and this usually means that they are already in weeks 5-8 of the pregnancy, which is when antenatal care usually begins.

Pre-pregnancy screenings are advised before you plan on getting pregnant, this ensures that you are in the best possible health for a healthy pregnancy.

Most women will have 8-10 antenatal check-ups before delivery; however, this may increase if you or your baby require closer monitoring. Your urine, weight, blood pressure, and your baby’s growth will be checked at each visit to help ensure that everything is on track and healthy. 

At Dr Claudia Chi Women’s Clinic , your antenatal checkup schedule may look like this:

• Every month in the first 6 months of your pregnancy
• Every 2 weeks in the 7th and 8th month of your pregnancy
• Every week in the 9th month of your pregnancy

This may increase depending on the health of you and your baby.

Throughout your antenatal care and in addition to the standard ultrasounds, you will be advised to undergo a number of antenatal tests  and screening which help provide information about you and your baby. 

These tests by trimesters are:

First trimester (weeks 5-12 of pregnancy) 

• Viability and dating ultrasound: checks if your pregnancy is in the right location, to demonstrate foetal heart activity and date the pregnancy.
• Antenatal screening blood tests: checks full blood count, blood group, thalassaemia screen, infection screen, and general health of mother.
• Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT): screens for genetic/chromosomal abnormalities.
• Combined first trimester screening (FTS or OSCAR): screens for genetic/chromosomal abnormalities.
• Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): when needed, diagnoses genetic abnormalities.

Second trimester (weeks 13-25 of pregnancy)

• Amniocentesis: when needed, diagnoses genetic abnormalities.
• Detailed foetal anomaly scan: also known as the 20 week scan, it checks for the physical development of the baby.

Gestational diabetes screening : tests for gestational diabetes by measuring your body’s response to sugar after overnight fasting.

What are the benefits of antenatal care?

• Assesses the health (physical, mental, and emotional) of the mother

• Identifies complications early which in turn allows for early intervention

• Prevents pregnancy and post-delivery complications