There is a medical checkup for pregnant mothers, also known as ``prenatal checkup.''
Even if I'm not sick, do I need to have checkups so often? It seems that many pregnant women have this question. We will introduce you to the types of tests that are performed, the advantages of having a doctor, and the disadvantages of not having one.

What is a prenatal checkup?

This is a medical checkup performed regularly to check the health status of pregnant women and their babies. It is recommended that you have approximately 14 checkups from the beginning of pregnancy until just before childbirth.

In addition to health checks, you can also consult with doctors, midwives, etc. about pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare. In order to have a healthy pregnancy and give birth safely, it is necessary to pay attention to various things such as daily life and nutrition. Get advice from experts to ease your worries.

When and what kind of test should be done?

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare recommends that women visit the doctor once every four weeks from the beginning of pregnancy until the 23rd week, once every two weeks from 24 to 35 weeks, and once a week from 36 weeks until childbirth. If the first visit is around 8 weeks pregnant, the number of visits will be approximately 14 times.

Basic tests such as abdominal circumference, uterine fundal length, weight, blood pressure, edema, and urine tests, as well as interviews and health guidance, are the same every time, and blood tests and ultrasound tests are also conducted depending on the pregnancy week. You will also undergo cervical cancer screening once before the 23rd week of pregnancy.

As pregnancy progresses, in addition to your belly growing, various changes occur in your body and mind. You may feel confused or anxious because you have no previous experience. During your health checkup, you can feel free to discuss any concerns you may have. You can feel at ease knowing that you can prepare for childbirth and childcare while receiving advice tailored to the situation.

How much does it cost?

Health checkups are not medical treatment or treatment, so all costs must be paid by the patient.
However, if you submit a pregnancy notification to the municipality where you live, you can receive financial assistance. Most local governments will cover part of the cost, but some will subsidize the entire cost.

The cost of each visit varies depending on the content of the test and varies by medical institution. Additionally, the amount of subsidy provided varies by municipality, so how much you will have to pay out-of-pocket must be determined on a case-by-case basis.
According to the experiences of senior mothers, there are many people who have to pay several thousand yen for each medical checkup, sometimes exceeding 10,000 yen.If you add up the 14 visits, it seems common for the total cost to be around 50,000 yen.

Do I have to undergo a prenatal checkup?

Prenatal checkups are not compulsory.
However, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare also recommends regular health checkups. This is for safety and security.

Even healthy people can develop serious illnesses during pregnancy, and once the symptoms have progressed, treatment is difficult. Even if a health problem occurs, it is possible to safely give birth by detecting it early and receiving appropriate treatment and health guidance while the problem is still mild. For this reason, we recommend that you have regular checkups.

When giving birth, if you go to a medical institution from the beginning of your pregnancy, you will know the doctors and other medical staff and have built a relationship of trust with them, and they will also know the health status of the mother and baby, so you can rest assured that they will be able to provide prompt and appropriate treatment in the unlikely event of a problem.

What will happen if I don't have a prenatal checkup?

If a pregnant woman who has not had a prenatal checkup is taken to the hospital by ambulance after labor begins, the hospital will not know the progress of her pregnancy up to that point. The pregnant woman ends up giving birth without the information that would normally have been gathered over several months, such as whether the pregnant woman has any illnesses that need attention and whether the baby is growing normally. It can be said that there is a big risk for both the pregnant woman and the baby.

Since it is impossible to predict what will happen, one of the disadvantages is that only hospitals that have a system in place to respond to emergencies will be able to accept the condition, and the number of places to be admitted to it is limited. It can be frustrating to try to find a place to accept your baby from a limited number of options after your labor starts.
To avoid such situations, it is important to have regular prenatal checkups.

To make your new life with your baby safer and more fulfilling, be sure to prepare well in advance!




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