How do i know if my baby is healthy during pregnancy?
Many women worry about their unborn child, especially in the first trimester, when so many changes occur with mom and baby. But it’s important to remember that most pregnancies are going well, and most babies are born healthy. And even if something does happen, healthcare has improved dramatically over the past few decades – and continues to improve every day. So today, more than ever, mothers have access to high-quality antenatal care that can help them stay as healthy as possible throughout their pregnancy, which in turn helps ensure a healthier baby.
If you are pregnant, then it is natural to worry about the health of your baby. There are several ways to know if your baby is healthy during pregnancy. The most common signs of a healthy baby during pregnancy include the following:
Movement:
The first symptom of fetus is growing well is movement after 5 months of conception. At 6 months, the fetus responds to sound through movement, and at 7 months, it reacts to stimuli such as light, sound, or pain. Towards the eighth month, the baby begins to change position and kicks more frequently, and towards the ninth month, the movements become less due to the less space available for them in the uterus. All of these signs indicate that her fetus is healthy.
Growth
There are several ways to measure the growth and development of a fetus. First, your doctor will perform an ultrasound to keep track of your baby’s health and development. Generally, a fetus grows by 2 inches every month. So, by the seventh month, your baby should be 14 inches long. In the third trimester, a healthy fetus grows heavier by 700 grams every week. Generally, by the ninth month, a fetus weighs about 3 kilograms and is 18-20 inches long. All these are signs of a healthy fetus in the womb.
Heartbeat
A healthy heart rate ranges from 110 to 160 beats per minute. This means that if the number falls below or above these limits, there may be some problems with the fetus. However, in most cases, doctors perform an ultrasound test to confirm any abnormalities in the child’s heart rate. In case of any questions or queries about your baby’s health during pregnancy, always consult a doctor immediately.
Weight gain and belly of the expectant mother
Weight gain is a sure sign of a strong pregnancy symptoms. You can ask your doctor to check your weight regularly and know if your pregnancy is progressing normally. Your belly should also grow in size over time.
Position
At the ninth month, the baby’s movements stop or become minimal. Finally, a healthy baby takes a head-first position and begins to move towards the birth canal.
Amniocentesis test:
An amniocentesis test involves drawing some fluid from around the fetus with a needle inserted into the mother’s abdomen through her abdomen after she has been given local anesthesia to relieve pain. This procedure helps doctors learn about genetic disorders that are present in babies before birth, such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21), spina bifida (a defect in the spine), cystic fibrosis (abnormal protein secretion leading to a lung infection), Tay-Sachs disease.
Blood test:
The blood test is another way through which doctors can detect whether or not there are any problems with your baby’s growth and development process.