Obstetrics Service in Singapore

WHAT IS OBSTETRICS?

Antenatal care refers to the care pregnant mothers receive from an obstetrician throughout the course of their pregnancy. It is designed to check the health and look for anything that could affect your growing baby. At each visit, your urine, blood pressure and weight gain will be checked.

Our obstetricians and specialists will also examine your abdomen to ascertain the position and size of the baby. In the later weeks of pregnancy, your baby’s heartbeat will also be detected using ultrasound. The assessment also involves the following blood tests:

  • A full blood count to exclude anaemia (low blood count which leaves you tired and less able to cope if you lose too much blood during or after the birth) and thalassaemia (a common genetic blood disorder in Singapore)
  • Blood grouping in the event a blood transfusion would be required
  • Hepatitis and syphilis screening
  • Rubella antibody screening (optional) to establish a history of exposure to this infection
  • An HIV screening as the implications on your baby may be significant should these infections be present

Your antenatal visits will depend on your individual needs. In general, women are require between eight to ten visits until they deliver their baby, while others may require additional to monitor the well-being of mother and baby.

Routine Antenatal Tests

  • Blood tests: These are done to determine your blood type.
  • Urine test: These are done to screen for bacteria, glucose and protein
  • Ultrasound

Fetal Screening Tests

Fetal screening tests are available for parents, especially those in the high-risk group such as increased age and an extensive family medical history. The majority of structural or chromosomal abnormalities may be detected by fetal screening tests, including chromosomal abnormality, genetic diseases, infections, major structural abnormalities especially those involving the brain and the heart, and growth disorders.

  • First Trimester Prenatal Tests
  • Second Trimester Prenatal Tests
  • Third Trimester Prenatal Tests

Viability Scan

Ultrasound scan best done before 10 weeks of pregnancy for:

  • Confirmation of pregnancy
  • Location of pregnancy within uterus

Dating Scan

Ultrasound scan done between 8 – 13 weeks of pregnancy and checks for:

  • Estimated due date (EDD)
  • Length of baby (crown-rump length)
  • Multiple pregnancies

OSCAR (One Stop Clinic for the Assessment of Risk for Foetal Anomalies)

This ultrasound scan is performed between 11 – 13 weeks of pregnancy. It assesses for:

  • Risk of foetal anomalies, especially Down’s Syndrome

Fetal Anomaly Screening

Detailed scan conducted around 18 – 21 weeks to examine the structural anatomy of the foetus. The scan checks for:

  • Major anomalies in the brain, face, spine, heart, lungs, stomach, bowel, kidneys, limbs, genitalia and umbilical cord
  • Minor variations of normal anatomy, commonly found in babies with chromosomal abnormalities
  • Growth of the foetus
  • Amount of amniotic fluid
  • Placental position
  • Uterine blood flow

Growth Scan

A growth scan is done between 32 – 36 weeks of pregnancy. This measures and observes:

  • Growth and well-being of baby
  • Length of baby’s head, abdomen and thigh bone
  • Amount of amniotic fluid around baby
  • Baby’s activity
  • Placental position

Doppler Ultrasound Scan

This scan may be done around 32 – 36 weeks, using a special ultrasound application to evaluate:

  • Foetal umbilical blood flow
  • Blood flow between major foetal vessels
  • Detect early signs of oxygen deprivation
  • Detection of foetal anemia

Post-Delivery Care

A postpartum check-up is usually scheduled six weeks after a vaginal delivery, or earlier after a caesarean section. It includes a review of the mother’s physical and mental well-being, a pelvic examination, wound inspection (if any) and any necessary laboratory tests (e.g. a repeat OGTT for women with gestational diabetes to assess return to normalcy).

During the visit, a component covering areas like breastfeeding, birth control and weight reduction would be included as well. This check-up is also an opportunity to review the pregnancy and birth experience, to discuss problems and assess for depression, to provide emotional support, to answer questions and to consider if any further referral is necessary for the new mother.

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