Congratulations, you’re expecting a baby … exciting and anxious times await. Antenatal care is a crucial element of the pregnancy journey to ensure the optimal health of mom and baby.

Navigating this journey with an experienced obstetric team not only offers reassurance at every step, but the meticulous antenatal care ensures the wellbeing of mom and baby.  Sr Amber Buyl, Netcare Park Lane Hospital birthwise co-ordinator and midwife, explains antenatal care by trimester.

first trimester (0–12 weeks)

In the first weeks of pregnancy, your body starts releasing hormones that will nurture your unborn baby’s development in the womb while preparing your body for the changes to come.

As soon as you know you are pregnant, book your first antenatal appointment. Ideally, before 10 weeks gestation or after missing your second period. At this appointment, your obstetrician gynaecologist will examine you, take your medical history and perform your first scan. You will be able to see your baby starting to form and the tiny heart beating is visible from as early as six weeks. This is a special moment, as it is the parents’ first introduction to their unborn child.

“Antenatal appointments are an opportunity to discuss all aspects of your pregnancy. It is vital to tell your maternity team about any symptoms you are experiencing,” says Sr Buyl.

During the first trimester, it is relatively common for expectant mothers to experience morning sickness. This is characterised by heightened sensitivity to smells, and nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Morning sickness often resolves in the second trimester.

“If morning sickness symptoms are severe, tell your obstetrician. In rare cases, women may develop hyperemesis gravidarum, which may require treatment to keep mother and baby safe. This is one of the many conditions we check for at this crucial early stage of pregnancy,” she says.

second trimester (13–26 weeks)

By now, the foetus is fully formed. Your obstetrics team will carefully monitor your baby’s growth and heartbeat. Scans at this stage show the gender of the baby, although it is up to the parents whether they want to know this information before the birth.

“We continue to monitor the mother’s health as a few pregnancy-related conditions can develop during the second trimester. The obstetric team will test the mother’s blood glucose to check for gestational diabetes, which usually has no noticeable symptoms, and monitor her blood pressure for signs of pre-eclampsia,” Sr Buyl explains.

Both conditions can cause complications affecting mother and baby if they are undiagnosed and unmanaged. However, with early detection and treatment, the risks can be averted.

third trimester (27 weeks–birth)

When entering the third trimester, the frequency of check-ups increases to carefully monitor the baby’s development, position and heartbeat in preparation for their arrival. In the final weeks, it can feel increasingly uncomfortable for the mother as the foetus grows and places pressure on her bladder and stomach. She may also notice swelling of the ankles and feet.

Sr Buyl says antenatal classes are recommended for the mother-to-be and her birth partner starting from as early as 20 weeks’ gestation, to be ready for the delivery.

“During our antenatal classes, we discuss everything you need to know – from birthing positions and what to expect when you go into labour to caring for your baby and breastfeeding advice,” she says.

Read more about preparing for the birth of your baby and setting up a nursery.

Caring for and ensuring the health of both mom and baby is at the heart of the high-quality obstetric care offered by Netcare Parklane.

For more information, download Netcare Parklane’s maternity guide.