Dealing With Medical Emergencies and Conditions

Dealing With Medical Emergencies and Conditions

Why Might You See an Obstetrician in Your First Trimester?

by Vernon Foster

There are three periods of time that normal pregnancies are broken down into, each known as a trimester. The first of these runs from the period of conception up until three months. Although it is common to see an obstetrician — a specialist in gynaecology and pregnancy — in the other two trimesters, some mothers-to-be are referred to one sooner. If so, then there is nothing undue to worry about. Indeed, some obstetric advice is given even before pregnancy begins in some cases, usually when there are known complications that becoming pregnant might involve for the individual concerned. Often, a trip to a specialist leads to nothing more than a reassuring check-up. That said, what are the typical reasons to see an obstetrician prior to your second trimester?

Screening

Although certain medical screening is carried out by nursing staff in the Western world, some types require the attention of specialists. These days, tests for the presence of rubella antibodies is routine, but other screening tests, such as detecting Down's Syndrome or Edwards' Syndrome, might need a referral. Such screening is generally used to inform the parents of the wellbeing, or otherwise, of their unborn child rather than to try and eradicate the condition. If the mother in question has had certain conditions in the recent past — such as syphilis or chlamydia, for example — then further specialist screening may also be advisable before the pregnancy is into its second trimester.

Ectopic Pregnancies

These occur when a fetus has not successfully attached itself to the mother's uterus. Determining whether a pregnancy is ectopic or not at an early stage requires a great deal of skill because it is not always obvious. These days, obstetricians have a number of tools at their disposal to make such diagnoses, including vaginal ultrasound techniques. In any case, early assessments are preferable since pregnancies of this kind can be fatal.

Intercurrent Diseases

When mothers-to-be have other conditions which might have gone untreated or even unnoticed prior to pregnancy, symptoms can begin to develop soon after conception. A typical intercurrent disease that obstetricians will often diagnose early in pregnancy is diabetes mellitus, something that can have an impact on the growth of the fetus. Another one that is best picked up in the first trimester is thyroid disease. This may not be a problem until the mother's metabolism has to care for her growing baby as well as herself. Left undetected by an obstetrician, such a condition can lead to abnormalities in the brain development of the child.


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About Me

Dealing With Medical Emergencies and Conditions

Hello, my name is Peter and I live in Western Australia with my wife on our pet dogs. This is my blog which details how to deal with various medical emergencies and other conditions. Last year, several friends and members of my family suffered from various different kinds of medical problems. Some of them, such as my uncle had to be rushed to the hospital for immediate treatment that saved his life. Lots of my friends had minor problems which had a big impact on the quality of their lives. I take an active interest in first-aid and other medical matters so I decided to start this blog.

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