Chief Obstetrician-Gynecologist of Medical Center Hospital of the President’s Affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan answered most frequently asked questions of pregnant women

The first pregnancy is always an important event in woman’s life. That is why careful medical supervision is vital for wellbeing of expecting mother and her baby and a guarantee that pregnancy will go smoothly. We asked Zhanna Kovalchuk, physician with 18 years of experience, leading obstetrician-gynecologist of Medical Center Hospital of the President’s Affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan to answer the most important and frequently asked questions about pregnancy in the interview.

1. How to carry a healthy child?

– Healthy woman can carry healthy child. Both parents should undergo preliminary preparation. Examination is performed in family planning office. It is preferable that both parents improve their health before planned pregnancy and then the child will be conceived in good health, that significantly increases the chance for carrying and giving birth to healthy baby.

2. What vitamins to take?

– It is recommendable that vitamins for each woman should be selected individually by obstetrician-gynecologist considering trimester of pregnancy, overall health status and presence or absence of vitamin deficiency.

3. How expecting mother should take care of her health? Which things are surely forbidden for pregnant, and which prohibitions are ill-based?

– Expecting mother should comply with daily regime, follow balanced diet (nutrition pyramid), walk in fresh air, create benign psycho-emotional background (positive thinking, nice music), take moderate exercise (swimming in the pool, yoga for pregnant, therapeutic exercise).

The following things are not acceptable during pregnancy: lifting weights, physical exertion, physical and moral fatigue (stress), going to sauna (overheating, steam bath), alcohol, smoking, as well as long-distance flights.

4. What may lead to various deficiencies and syndromes in the child?

– Chromosomal abnormalities of fetus, chronic infections, acute infectious diseases, hormone disorders in woman’s body.

Pregnant women should be examined by geneticist to determine genetic risk group, possible deviation in the fetus. During the first trimester, it is necessary to perform ultrasonography at 12-13 weeks and 6 days for defining nuchal fold thickness and formation of nasal bones, then take blood sample (pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, HCG). With results of these tests, she goes through another consultation of geneticist. If necessary additional examinations may be prescribed (amniocentesis, cordocentesis, noninvasive maternal screening tests). During ultrasonography at 20 weeks the obstetrician assesses development of the child, condition of placenta and umbilical cord. Nowadays, thanks to modern examination methods, the chance of giving birth to a child with development deficiencies is very low.

5. Which tests and medical examinations should a pregnant woman take and what are the periods for taking these tests?

– A woman should be registered for check-up before 12 weeks of pregnancy. Then obstetrician-gynecologist will support her during examinations. It is to take complete blood count, urine test, pass consultations of general practitioner, geneticist, psychologist, ultrasonography at certain periods.

6. Is it possible to go in for sports?

– It is possible, but in certain doses, carefully. Sport exercises normalize cardiovascular, respiratory systems, improve metabolism, prevent gaining excess weight, edema, reinforce pelvic floor that will positively influence childbirth process.

7. In which cases it is necessary to seek urgent medical assistance?

– If you have lower abdominal pain and lumbar pain, blood-tinged discharge, incontinence of amniotic fluid, nausea, vomiting, high temperature, quickly proliferating edema, sharp migraine, worsening of eyesight, dark spots in the field-of-view.

8. How to choose obstetrician-gynecologist for following pregnancy? Why pregnant women choose Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Medical Center Hospital of the President’s Affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan (advantages)?

– Pregnant woman should feel comfortable with her doctor. Physician should have high qualification, skills of following high-risk women, experience of working at maternity house, specialty in ultrasonography and specialist’s certificate. Pregnant woman and physician should conversate frankly and openly, that will positively affect following the pregnancy.

All of the above characterizes obstetrician-gynecologists of Medical Center Hospital of the President’s Affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, being the main reason why pregnant women choose this hospital. Facilities of specialized obstetrics department are also important. Medical Center Hospital of the President’s Affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan has state-of-the-art advanced equipment, allowing precise and timely examinations.