The Importance of Prenatal Prenatal

WORLD MAGAZINE
Doctor, why is prenatal care so important?

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DR. SABRINA MELLO
First, it is important to understand that prenatal care is the monitoring of pregnancy and offers knowledge about the period for the mother and the whole family, as a way of guaranteeing information about the stages. It is through this monitoring that it becomes possible to monitor the health of the fetus, allowing the detection of pathologies or adversities capable of jeopardizing the health of the mother and her baby. 

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WORLD MAGAZINE
What would these pathologies be? 

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DR. SABRINA MELLO
Well, one of the goals of gestational monitoring is to detect high-risk diseases such as gestational diabetes, hypertensive disease of pregnancy, thrombophilia - one of the diseases that most deserve attention today. Some women have isthmocervical inconsistency, known as a short cervix, which can result in miscarriage or premature delivery. It is also necessary to evaluate growth restriction, diseases such as toxoplasmosis, among other syndromes capable of causing harm to the mother and her baby. 

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WORLD MAGAZINE
Does gestational diabetes occur in cases of mothers who have the disease?

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DR. SABRINA MELLO
Not. It is related to the onset of the disease that appears around the second trimester of pregnancy, due to insulin resistance caused by pregnancy hormones. It usually disappears after delivery, but there are cases where it can persist.  Apart from the gynecological follow-up, the patient needs assistance from a nutritionist and an endocrinologist, a professional who controls blood glucose. It is necessary to change eating habits and practice physical activity to control glucose. Severe untreated cases can even lead to the death of the baby during pregnancy, childbirth and even after. Treatment is done with insulin only, as there is no oral medication. Diabetes during pregnancy poses a risk of maternal and fetal death and, in some cases, a very strict follow-up is necessary and even the need for lung maturation and removal of the premature fetus.

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WORLD MAGAZINE
What happens to women who have gestational hypertension?

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DR. SABRINA MELLO
For women without signs of hypertension before pregnancy, this type of pathology manifests itself most often after 20 weeks of gestation and remains until delivery, after which it ceases to manifest. But there are situations where the problem persists. 

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In these cases, the woman is considered to be chronically hypertensive. Without treatment, it can get worse, affecting brain functions, and can cause seizures. Loss of consciousness, agitation, headaches or muscle aches may also occur. The practice of physical exercise is important, however, it must be light and accompanied by a qualified professional. It is still fundamental to control food, with a diet prescribed by the nutritionist. There is also a risk of maternal and fetal death.  

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WORLD MAGAZINE
Why does thrombophilia deserve so much attention?

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DR. SABRINA MELLO
Because this pathology during pregnancy can cause a number of factors, among which, preventing the growth of the fetus and causing spontaneous abortions. It occurs through the formation of clots in the blood vessels. Every pregnant woman has hypercoagulability, but in excess it makes the disease manifest. Women with some type of thrombophilia are more likely to develop thrombi in pregnancy and, consequently, to generate miscarriages, obstruction of blood flow in placental vessels followed by placental insufficiency. The biggest problem is that in many cases the pathology does not present any symptoms. From the medical literature, thrombophilia should be investigated from the third consecutive abortion, but as a doctor, I know that only those who have an abortion know the pain of an abortion, so I investigate thrombophilia in all my patients. From the moment she says she wants to get pregnant, we carry out all these procedures to avoid any problems during pregnancy. 

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WORLD MAGAZINE
What does the doctor have to say to first-time moms?

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DR. SABRINA MELLO
A healthy pregnancy depends on several factors, which can be completely peaceful for some mothers and very traumatic for others. The only way to detect any abnormality is prenatal care and follow-up throughout pregnancy. This process does not only concern the period in which the mother is pregnant, as it will ensure the health of the baby in the postpartum period. These are necessary care that can be decisive!