Comprehensive Guide to Mid-Pregnancy Checkups (Public Health Network)
During mid-pregnancy, expectant mothers should attend regular prenatal checkups at the obstetrics clinic as directed by their doctor. Those without a prenatal care file should promptly establish one at the hospital, typically returning for follow-ups every 4 weeks.
During the first prenatal visit, the doctor will conduct a comprehensive physical examination and various laboratory tests to assess the mother's health and identify potential risks to the fetus. This includes screening for serious bacterial or viral infections that could harm the baby. Pelvic measurements will also be taken to determine if the dimensions fall within normal ranges, providing a basis for selecting the delivery method at term.
Around 16 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, a gynecological ultrasound is performed to detect severe fetal abnormalities such as hydrocephalus, anencephaly, spina bifida, congenital heart defects, and other visceral anomalies. This allows for early termination of pregnancy in cases of abnormalities, achieving the goal of eugenics.Typically after 18–20 weeks, the fetal heartbeat becomes easily detectable with a specialized stethoscope placed on the abdomen. The heartbeat sounds like a clock's "tick-tock," normally ranging from 120 to 160 beats per minute—significantly faster than an adult's heart rate. It is most clearly heard at the midpoint below the navel, slightly to the left or right, and near the fetal back.
Additionally, during prenatal checkups, doctors closely monitor changes in the mother's blood pressure and weight, as well as signs of edema, anemia, or vaginal bleeding. This helps promptly identify pregnancy complications or pre-existing medical conditions—whether internal or surgical—that were minor before pregnancy but become more pronounced or severe during gestation. Any abnormalities detected warrant immediate referral to a high-risk pregnancy clinic for intensive monitoring.If the mother's condition is severe, pregnancy continuation is inadvisable, or fetal abnormalities are detected, termination should be performed promptly.