Zenith Medical Centre offers a number of antenatal check-up and nursing services. Expectant mothers, in general, need to have 9-15 antenatal check-up during the whole pregnant journey to ensure healthy growth of the fetus as well as the pregnancy.
| 6–8 weeks | Antenatal blood tests |
| 8-12 weeks | Routine ultrasound examination and maternal health assessment |
| 10 weeks above | Down's syndrome screening |
| 18-24 weeks | Routine fetal morphology scan |
| 26-28 weeks | Gestational diabetes mellitus screening |
| 27-35 weeks | Pertussis vaccination |
| 35-38 weeks | Group B streptococcus screening |
| 36-40 weeks | Fetal position and pelvic examination |
Antenatal blood tests (6-8 weeks)
There is a list of blood tests for the first antenatal check-up of pregnancy which include:
Routine ultrasound examination and maternal health assessment (8-12 weeks)
Pregnant should have routine ultrasound check-up throughout their pregnancy:
| Before 28 weeks | Once every 4 weeks |
| 28-35 weeks | Once every 2 weeks |
| After 35 weeks | Once a week |
Two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound is generally performed for routine ultrasound examinations.
During the early stages of pregnancy, the obstetrician will perform ultrasound to examine any abnormality of pregnancy. The items examined include:
Down’s syndrome screening (over 10 weeks)
There are two commonly used Down’s syndrome screenings:
| 10 weeks above | Non-invasive prenatal test |
| 11-14 weeks | First trimester combined Down's syndrome screening |
Routine fetal morphology scan (18-24 weeks)
Routine fetal morphology scan is recommended to perform between 18-24 weeks of pregnancy, while 20-22 weeks of pregnancy is the best time. With a normal fetal morphology scan, parents-to-be could be reassured. If unfortunately, fetus structure is found to be abnormal or with defect, early detection allows parents, obstetricians and pediatricians to have better preparation for the childbirth. In case of severe fetal defect, parents could choose to terminate the pregnancy before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Learn MoreGestational diabetes mellitus screening (26-28 weeks)
Pregnant should fast for 8 hours before oral glucose tolerance test. After arriving at the clinic, fasting blood will be taken for the test. Within 15-20 minutes, the pregnant has to drink a glass of water containing 75gm glucose. Blood will be taken again 2 hours afterward.
Normal range:
| Fasting blood glucose level | < 5.1 mmol/L |
| Blood glucose level after 2 hours | < 8.5 mmol/L |
Pertussis vaccination (27-35 weeks)
According to the advice of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases, regardless of whether the pregnant have been vaccinated against pertussis previously or have been infected with the disease, they are recommended to receive a dose of acellular pertussis vaccine during each pregnancy. Antibodies produced could be transmitted to the fetus before delivery, providing direct protection to the infant who has not yet got vaccinated in the first few months after birth in order to prevent pertussis infection.
Group B streptococcus screening (35-38 weeks)
Vaginal and rectal swab is collected from the pregnant, which will be send to the laboratory for bacterial culture and sensitivity testing. Pregnant with positive test result is recommended to receive intravenous antibiotics during labour and delivery to reduce the infection risk on their infant.
Fetal position and pelvic examination (36-40 weeks)
Obstetricians will assess the fetal weight, position, and engagement through ultrasound scan and physical examination approaching term gestation in order to determine whether the pregnancy is suitable for vaginal delivery.
