PREGNANT during a PANDEMIC: What should your Prenatal Care look like?

What instructions are your Maternity HealthCare Providers (midwives, obstetricians) receiving to keep You, your Baby, and Themselves safe during your Pregnancy ?

It is physiologically normal during pregnancy to naturally be immuno-compromised (it is part of how your body doesn't reject growing your baby). But add into that fact, knowing that local Hospitals (where you may have been planning to give birth) are heaving with COVID-19 patients, and it can feel justifiably unnerving.

Add on top of that, the fact that all our governments' policies have needed to constantly evolve as the world tries to work out the best management to contain the virus spreading, then as an expectant mother you can't help but wonder what is the best strategy for you and your precious family to stay well.

I thought you could find it beneficial to know some of the recommendations Maternity HealthCare workers are receiving - so you can feel reassured of what should now be 'normal' maternity care-plans during these highly 'abnormal' times

FIRST TRIMESTER (Under 12 weeks)

Most information shared over one phone/video call, with short face-to-face meeting for physical assessment of baseline blood pressure, urine analysis, height, weight, and initial bloods.

SECOND TRIMESTER

12-16 Weeks: Phone/video check-up.

16-20 Weeks: Phone/video check-up and Anatomy Ultrasound scan.

20-24 Weeks: Face-to-face to check blood pressure, fetal well-being and urine analysis.

24-26 Weeks: Phone/video check-up.

Approx 28-Wks: Face-to-face to check blood pressure, fetal well-being, urine analysis, and repeat bloods.

THIRD TRIMESTER

30-32 Weeks: Phone/video check-up.

32-34 Weeks: Face-to-face to check BP, fetal well-being, and urine analysis. (From this time onwards, particular vigilance is always given to exclude pre-eclampsia and fetal growth concerns.)

34-36 Weeks: Phone/video check-up.

37-40 Weeks: Weekly contact with at least a couple of face-to-face physical assessments. Repeat bloods.

40-42 Weeks: Weekly face-to-face physical assessments.

REMINDER: These are guideline recommended levels of contact. Women with medical complexities or obstetric complications may need additional face-to-face care-plan appointments.