Antenatal Care

Antenatal care aims to monitor the health of both mother and baby. A woman with gestational diabetes may need special tests in addition to routine antenatal care. Some of these may include:

• Ultrasound – checks on the baby's growth and development. Later in pregnancy, it is used to help estimate fetal weight, locate the placenta and assess the amount of amniotic fluid.
  A biophysical profile is an ultrasound that checks fetal breathing, fetal movements, fetal muscle tone, and the amount of amniotic fluid. Other tests may be included. This provides detailed information about the baby's health.

• Fetal heart rate monitoring. A CTG (cardiotocograph) measures the baby's heart rate. This is a monitor which is placed on the mother's abdomen.
• Kick Chart. This is a record of how often you feel your baby move. You may be asked to keep a record of your baby's movements late in pregnancy. A healthy baby tends to move the same amount each day. You will be instructed to contact your doctor or midwife if the baby is not active.