Who looks after you when you’re pregnant?
Apart from your mom and best
girlfriend, once you’ve recovered from the excitement (or shock) of a positive
pregnancy test, you need to think about where your baby will be born, and a
health-care professional to look after you.
Think practical. Your choice of
healthcare professional depends on whether or not this will be a high, moderate
or low-risk pregnancy, and your financial circumstances. You may want to have a
home-birth, but is there a midwife in your town or village who can come to you?
Will your medical aid cover the cost of private health-care or will you need to
go to your local provincial/government hospital?
My advice would be to start with
your family doctor who has your medical records. He/she will also be able to
assess your pregnancy risks, and whether to refer you to a specialist or a
midwife.
Low risk pregnancy:
The best age to have a baby is when
you’re in your 20’s and early 30’s. This is because your body is subtle and you
have high endurance levels to cope with the physical demands of pregnancy and motherhood. Being the right weight for your height means that
your body can cope with the extra weight of pregnancy. Younger women are also
active and mobile which is just what your developing baby and your body needs
to cope with labour and birth. Women who fit this profile can safely have their
babies at home or a natural-birthing unit, or her baby can be delivered by a
midwife at a government hospital. Ante-natal care can be followed-up by a private
midwife, or a midwife at your local municipal ante-natal clinic. If you choose to have your baby at a private
hospital, you can go to a gynaecologist or obstetrician attached to the
hospital of your choice.
After initial blood tests, you need
to go for monthly check-ups until you are seven months pregnant. Then every two
weeks until the last month of your pregnancy. During your final count-down, you
will need to go for weekly check-ups until your baby is born.
Should your doctor/midwife pick up
any problems along the way, you will be referred to a specialist if you’re using
private health care, or a tertiary hospital attached to a university if you are
going to a government hospital.
Moderate risk:
Women in this category are ‘first-timers’
younger than 20 or older than 35.
‘Second-timers’ with a moderate risk are women who have had a previous
c-section (at least three years ago), or medical problems during her previous
pregnancy and those who have a family history of birthing problems such as
haemorrhaging. Finally, women with chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes,
high blood pressure and epilepsy are a moderate risk, providing these are under control. If these medical conditions
deteriorate, a woman will be notched into a high-risk category.
High risk pregnancy:
Many more women are falling into
this category today – either because they’re having their first baby when
they’re younger than 18 or older than 38. A woman who has had fertility
treatment, and more especially if she is carrying twins (or more) is considered
high risk. Women with severe medical problems such has heart, liver or kidney
disorders, uncontrolled diabetes, chronic high blood pressure or an auto-immune
disease like lupus or arthritis must not only be closely monitored by an
obstetrician, she must also be monitored by her specialist.
Let’s not forget that girlfriends,
mothers, grandmothers and other family members are especially important for
pregnant women. Where I come from, we say: “It takes a village to raise a
child”. Pregnant women shouldn’t feel isolated and alone. A friendly call, SMS
or WhatsApp message, a coffee break, helping with her shopping or just being
with her at the doctor’s rooms can boost her morale and help her cope in times
of stress.
