1. Choose a clinic which is specialist accredited. Like other specialists, obstetricians must be accredited by the Specialists Accreditation Board, which is administered under the supervision of the Ministry of Health.

2. Availability of care services before and after childbirth. Do enquire for experienced doctors. It depends on the number of years of experience and the number of babies they delivered each year. It is better to choose a hospital with skilled doctors as patients can learn about cases and experiences of other patients.

3. Choosing a clinic with support for ideal childbirth. It will be good to enquire if your desired delivery method is available.

4. Communication is see. Look out for key points such as whether the doctor is willing to talk to you as a caregiver, patiently listens and answers questions, or responds to your requests.

At the end of the day, choosing your gynaecologist is a highly intimate and personal decision. Please make sure that you are comfortable with him/her, and can fully trust your gynaecologist.

Down Syndrome is one of the commonest causes of mental retardation. The risk increases the older the mother is. There are a few ways to test for Down Syndrome – these tests are optional. : 1.First trimester screening: this is done at about 11-13 weeks’ gestation. It involves an ultrasound to assess the thickness of the skin behind the fetus’ neck (the thicker it is, the higher the risk for Down Syndrome & some other abnormalities) & a blood test. The results assess the risk for a fetus to have Down Syndrome. The test also assesses risk for other syndromes like Edward & Patau Syndrome – serious conditions that lead to abnormalities in the child & a shortened life span. This test is 90% sensitive.

2.NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing): this is a blood test done after 11 weeks’ gestation. Blood is taken from the mother & is sent for analysis. The baby passes some chromosomes to the mother during pregnancy, & this is assessed. It is 98 % accurate & does not lead to miscarriage. It tests for Down Syndrome, Edward’s & Patau’s Syndromes.
With evolving technology, it can also be used to test for rarer syndromes , e.g. Di George, cri-du-chat,Prader Willi & Angelman Syndrome

3.Amniocentesis : this is done from 15-20 weeks’ gestation. It involves the insertion of a needle into the womb under ultrasound guidance. 20 cc of amniotic fluid are extracted & sent for chromosomal testing. The test is 99.8 % accurate, but leads to miscarriage in 0.5 % of the time.

1.Please start consuming folic acid. It is ideal to start consuming a month before pregnancy as it can be easily taken as supplements.

2.Please quit smoking.

3.Please consult a doctor if you have any chronic illness. It may affect the pregnancy, or the pregnancy may worsen the illness.

4.Please get vaccinated to rubella and chicken pox if you are not immune to them. Please also avoid pregnancy 3 to 4 months after the vaccination.

With careful planning, a vegetarian diet during pregnancy can provide all the necessary vitamins, minerals, protein and other nutrients you need for a healthy pregnancy. Make sure you include protein-rich food in your diet such as beans and tofu as these are vital for your baby’s growth. You should also consider supplementing your diet with a well-balanced maternal milk to make sure you are receiving all the required nutrients during the course of your pregnancy.

Every pregnancy is different – sometimes morning sickness is more severe in the first pregnancy and is less evident or absent in the next, and sometimes it is the other way around. There is no need to be worried. If you find you can’t hold down your food or drink at all, or completely lose your appetite, do consult your obstetrician.