About prenatal care

If you are pregnant, you have to visit your nearest clinic or a professional medical practitioner for proper prenatal care.

Prenatal care refers to the medical and nursing care for women during pregnancy. The aim for good prenatal care is to foresee any potential problems as early as possible.

Note: It is very important that you visit the clinic as soon as you suspect that you are pregnant.

What you should do

• You must make an appointment at your local clinic or midwifery.
• Fill in forms provided at the clinic.
• On your visit the nurse or midwife will ask you about your medical history.
• The nurse or mid-wife will:
• take your blood pressure
• weigh you to work out your body mass index
• test your urine to check for the level of protein which can indicate a pregnancy related condition called pre-eclampsia
• take blood samples:
• Arrange for you to have a dating scan to find out how far are you with your pregnancy.
• Feel your womb to get an idea of whether your baby is growing at the expected rate.
  

How long does it take

• If you are a first time mother with a normal pregnancy it is recommended that after your first booking, you should have 10 more prenatal check-ups.
• Assuming that there are no complications, checks should be done at 16, 18-20, 25, 28, 31, 34, 36, 38, 40, and 41 weeks.
• If you have had a baby before and you have an uncomplicated pregnancy then you should have seven check-ups at 16, 18-20, 28, 34, 36, 38 and 41 weeks.
• If there are complications the clinic will give you more check-up dates and may refer you to the hospital.
  

Note: If you don’t like the long gaps in between the visits talk to your nurse, midwife or doctor.

How much does it cost

It is free at public health facilities.

Forms to complete

Forms are available at the clinic.

Who to contact

Visit your local clinic.