Antenatal Care

Antenatal Care is the professional care during a woman’s pregnancy. The idea being to ensure that you and your baby are well and to advice on maintaining your health throughout pregnancy.
Antenatal check-ups prevent most medical problems. Even if there is a problem, early detection helps to control the problem better. For example, there is a condition called pre- eclampsia in which there is weight gain, high blood pressure and stress on the kidney. This is detected by regular blood pressure checks and checking the urine for protein. A urinary tract infection during pregnancy can be detected by a simple urine analysis and its treatment helps the normal growth of the baby in the womb.
Read more: Pregnancy and Antenatal Care

Advice including

• Dietary focus

Clacium- from diary such as milk and cheese
Vitamin C- from Citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, berrys and tomatoes
Oily Fish- Mackerel, Herring, salmon are a great source of essential oils for babys development
Iorn- found in Meat but also Beans, eggs, fortified breakfast cereals, figs , prunes

• Medication- Do’s and Don’t’s

Dont take unprescribed medicines or herbal remedies
Ensure you tell medical staff you are pregnant before thye prescribe anything
Take Folic acid one tablet daily before conception if possible and for fisrt 12 weeks

• Advice on Foods to Avoid

Cook all meats and eggs thoroughly
Re heat ready cooked meals to piping hot
Avoid uncooked or cured meat including salami
Avoid unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses
Avoid liver and pate
Reduce caffine to less than 5 cups a day

• Exercise

Keeping up your fittiness will stand to you for later in pregnancy and labour

• Lifestyle Factors .

DO NOT SMOKE– effects growth and development of Baby
Avoid Alcohol
Caution regarding Cats- avoid contact with cat litter or where there is a risk of Toxoplasmosis

We usually recommend booking appointment once you have or suspect positive pregnancy test.
Antenatal care throughout your pregnancy is free at The Keogh Practice.During check-ups, women will receive medical information over maternal physiological changes in pregnancy, biological changes, and prenatal nutrition including prenatal vitamins.
The term combined antenatal care refers to the fact that we share your care with the Obstetrics in the hospital of your choosing and we liaise with them regarding any issues which may arise.

You May Choose

• Public
• Domino clinic –midwife lead clinic
• Private – consultant of your choice

If you are not yet pregnant but in the planning stage we also offer pre conceptual consoling and advice. The availability of routine antenatal care has played a part in reducing maternal death rates and miscarriages as well as birth defects, low birth weight, and other preventable health problems.