Before pregnancy, women planning pregnancy are recommende to;

• Stop smoking or decreased below 3 cigarettes if they smoke,
• Have a Hepatitis B, german measles (rubella) monitoring before pregnancy and complete their vaccines if required  ,
• Loose weight if they are overweight,

·        Use daily 400 microgram folic acid, but 4 mg folic acid if they have a history of baby with anomaly (neural tube defect) in their previous pregnancies,

·        Couples being conductor for genetic diseases like Mediterranean anemia, cystic fibrosis or having family members with these types of diseases are recommended to have genetic consultancy.

There is no scientific evidence about damage of dyeing hair and make up, entering in sexual relationship until last weeks of pregnancy (except premature birth threat or bleeding), swimming on sea or pool, traveling with plane (a doctor report is required after 26^th week of pregnancy), driving (until the last month), sporting, using computer and mobile phone passing though security gates with metal detector. Frequent motion, calf exercises and plentiful water intake is sufficient for short place travels shorter than two-three hours. Wearing varsity socks is recommended for longer travels in addition to them. Pregnant women who had a vessel and varsity problem before are recommended to ask advice of their doctor before travel. Seafaring may cause increase in nausea and vomiting especially in early periods of pregnancy. All sorts of teeth treatment can be held during pregnancy.

Iron tablets are required for women who had bloodlessness (anemia) problem before pregnancy or those developed anemia after 26^th pregnancy week.    

The risk of occurrence of fetal anomaly in pregnancy is 2%. 40% of fetal anomalies can be determined with ultrasonography during 10-14^th weeks and 80% can be determined during 22-24^th weeks of pregnancy. It should be remembered that 10% screening tests conducted during pregnancy may give results as if there is a problem in baby even though there is no problem     

You should be followed-up in time intervals recommended by your doctor during the pregnancy period for healthy continuance of your pregnancy and for determining and preventing any problem to occur during pregnancy in early periods. Form of monitoring and required investigations are generally as follows in women without any problem before pregnancy:

First examination: After detection of pregnancy sac (5-6^th week of pregnancy) and heart beatings of baby (7-8^th week of pregnancy), blood pressure and body weight will be measured and recorded. Details about previous pregnancies, complaints emerged in current pregnancy and diseases and operations had by future mother before, drugs she used, smoking-alcohol use, existence of any genetic disease in family members of spouses and probability of kin between spouses should be interrogated in order determine whether or not the pregnancy is risky. Fasting blood glucose, blood group and hepatitis tests are asked from spouses. If future mother is HBs Ag positive, vaccine and immunoglobulin should be administered on baby immediately after birth in order to prevent infection in baby. Vaccine should be repeated in 2^nd and 6^th months. If a smear test is conducted in pregnant woman during the last one year, smear receiving smear from uterus mouth is recommended. In couples having blood incompatibility (mother Rh -, father Rh+), indirect Coombs (IDC) test is asked to determine whether or not the baby is affected. Baby’s blood group and direct Coombs will be examined after birth. If baby’s blood group is Rh+ and direct Coombs test is negative, Anti IgD vaccine is administered on mother within the first 72 hours after birth, and so following babies are prevented from being affected negatively.

Second examination: In addition to body weight and blood pressure measurement, ultrasonography is required again during 11-14^th pregnancy weeks. Nape skin thickness measurement and existence of nasal bone are checked for Down syndrome monitoring with ultrasonography; blood is received for PAPP-A and f-beta HCG measurement. 90% of babies with down syndrome can be detected with this test. IDC test is repeated in Rh – pregnant women. Risks for baby being down syndrome are determined by evaluating HCG, estriol and alphafetoprotein levels checked in mother’s blood, age of mother and pregnancy week together (tripal monitoring test) during 16-18^th pregnancy weeks. 64% of babies with down syndrome can be detected with this test. This test only displays risk, but sample is received from placenta of baby (CVS) during the first 3 months of pregnancy and sample is received from fluid surrounding baby (amniocentesis) during second 3 months of pregnancy for definite diagnosis.

Third examination: Blood is received for full blood count following the body weight and blood pressure measurement during 22-24^th pregnancy week. If hemoglobin value is below 11, iron tablet is recommended. In addition, detail ultrasonography investigation by which all organs and heart of baby are investigated in detail should be held and also Doppler ultrasonography investigation which examines blood flow in uterus vessels should be held if your doctor considers necessary during these weeks. 50 grams oral glucose load test should be conducted between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy in order to monitor diabetes due to pregnancy which appears 4% of pregnancies. Blood sugar is checked 1 hour after 50 grams glucose intake on an empty or full stomach is with this test. If this value is above 140, diabetes is diagnosed by conducting load test with 100 grams glucose. IDC test is repeated in Rh – pregnant women.

Fourth examination: Ultrasonography should be held to evaluate development of baby in addition to blood pressure and body weight measurement in 32th week. IDC test is repeated in Rh – pregnant women. 

Fifth examination: This is the last visit to determine estimated birth weight of baby and to plan type of accouchment according to appropriateness of your bone framework in 38-39^th week of pregnancy. Weight of baby and water situation are measured with ultrasonography and heart beatings of baby are evaluated with NST in addition to blood pressure and body weight measurements. NST and ultrasonography follow-ups will continue in frequency found acceptable by your doctor after 38^th week of pregnancy until birth.