Planning a pregnancy and going ahead with the process can be one of the most important decisions made by any family. While on the one hand, it brings unexpressed joy and fulfilment to the parents, on the other hand, it can be extremely stressful at the same time with the additional responsibilities, proper care for the child, physiological changes in the mother and anxieties towards the well-being of both.

This is where any information, guidance and support is always welcomed by new parents, to alleviatethe worry and fully enjoy this exciting new phase of life. Traditionally, this guiding role has been played by grandmothers and mothers in India. However, with the changing lifestyle and nuclear family structure, more and more parents are opting for Mothercare in Delhi and other metro cities both before and after the delivery.

The care for an expecting mother is broadly classified into two categories, viz. Prenatal Care and Postnatal Care. Prenatal care is the care provided to the mother from the beginning of her pregnancy to the delivery. Postnatal care starts immediately after the delivery and continues for some time until the mother and newborn can continue with their life without assistance.

Prenatal care starts from the time you become pregnant and is focussed towards keeping both you and your baby safe and healthy. It is advisable to visit your doctor when you start planning to become pregnant. However, if that is not possible, prenatal care should start immediately after you become pregnant.

We do provide Mothercare services in Delhi for prenatal mothers in Delhi which includes getting different check-ups and examinations to ensure the health of both mother and child. Certain precautions that are a must for an expectant mother are

1. Start taking Folic Acid supplements, as this helps decrease the risk of many birth defects in the child
2. Take only the medicines prescribed by your service provider and stop any other medications in consultation with them. Even over the counter medicines, herbs and powders should be avoided if not recommended by your selected care provider
3. Avoid smoking, alcohol and restrict caffeine intake

The type and frequency of check-ups will depend on the stage of pregnancy. The different stages of pregnancy are commonly referred to as trimesters, however, the doctors refer to the same in weeks. Following is an indicative frequency of check-ups that may be required

• For the first 32 weeks – every 4 or 6 weeks
• For week 32 to 37 – every 2 to 3 weeks
• From 37^th week to delivery – every week

The above list is only indicative and the actual frequency may depend on your individual situation and your doctor’s assessment. The routine tests done as part of the prenatal care include

1. Ultrasound tests to monitor the baby’s growth
2. Sugar tests to keep a check and avoid the risk of gestational diabetes
3. Foetal echocardiography to check the baby’s heart

Prenatal care also involves guiding the mother about the symptoms, pains and problems she may face during the pregnancy including morning sickness, back pains, sleeping troubles, vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy and changes to the skin and hair as well as what to do in these situations.

Postnatal care involves taking care of the newly born child and the mother from the time of the delivery. They need to be closely monitored immediately after the delivery and for the next 24 hours. The postnatal care provider should check the newborn baby and mother every 15 minutes for the first 2 hours and then continuously for the next 24 hours.

In the case of vaginal delivery, the mother would be expected to stay in the facility for 1-2 days. On the other hand, if the baby is born through a C-section, the doctor may ask the mother to be hospitalized for 3-4 days. The next set of checks, irrespective of whether the delivery happened in a hospital, medical facility or at home, must be done on Day 3 of the birth. Post that, the check-ups will happen at 2-3 weeks and Week 6 to ensure the healthy development of the child.

Some of the routine tests that are done as part of the postnatal care for a newborn child and new mother are

1. Monitoring the health parameters of the mother and the newborn child
2. Counselling for the mother on Family Planning methods
3. Counselling and advice for the mother on breastfeeding, taking care of the child, hygiene for the baby and the surroundings, rest schedule for both the mother and the child and methods to care for the child including cord care.
4. Planning out the vaccination schedule for the child and guidance on the vaccines

During the postnatal care, mothers are also counselled on how to look out for warning signs and when to contact the doctors. Some of the warning signs mothers should observe are

• Fever, weakness, excessive bleeding, severe pain in the abdominal region in the mother

Inability to suck, abnormal breathing, variations in body temperature, convulsions in the child

We at Care24 understand the significance of pre and postnatal care and hence offer our Mothercare services in Delhi to help you in this anxious stage of life. Our staff is handpicked and trained to give you the best care.