When to do video-xray during pregnancy in Nepal? All test and hospital visit details

Hello! How much happiness does it bring to the family when a new guest comes to the house? But along with this happiness, it is our biggest responsibility to take care of the health of the pregnant mother and the growing child in the womb.

In most of the rural areas, sisters fall into a dilemma - "When to go to the hospital for the first time? , "" How often and when to do video X-ray (USG)? , "" What to check? . " In some cases, it is too late to go to the hospital because you have to walk far away.

In today's video, we will talk in very simple language about how many times to go to the hospital during pregnancy, when to do video X-ray and what to check, according to the health rules of the Government of Nepal. Watch this video and show it to all the pregnant women in your family.

When do you go to the hospital or clinic? (ANC Contacts)

Earlier, only four tests used to conducted in Nepal. But now the government of Nepal advises to contact the health institution at least 8 times or get tested so that both mother and child are more safe. I mean, do you ever know?

• For the first time (within 12 weeks) after stoping menstruation, go to the health post or hospital as soon as the pregnancy is detected (before the of 3 months).
• The second trimester (16 weeks) in the fourth month.
• The third time (20 weeks) in the fifth month.
• The fourth time (24 weeks) in the sixth month.
• The fifth time (28 weeks) in the seventh month.
• The sixth time (32 weeks) in the eighth month.
• The seventh time (36 weeks) at the beginning of the ninth month.
• The eighth time (38 to 40 weeks) is just before childbirth.

Special note (for the village sisters)

"If a big hospital is far away from your home, you don't always have to go to a big hospital for all these tests. You can also get many services and advice by contacting the health post or women's health volunteer (FCHV) in your village. "

When and why do you use video (USG)?

Many sisters ask, "Does too much video X-ray affect the child? . " In general, it is considered safe and necessary to do video x-rays at least 2 to 3 times throughout pregnancy.

1. The first USG (within 3 months - Dating Scan) shows whether the fetus is in the right place (in the uterus), whether the baby is a twin, and whether the baby has a heartbeat. In some cases in rural areas the first test may not happen as "Video X-ray facility is not in the village." But as soon as possible get it checked by going to the nearby market or hospital.
2. The second USG (5 months - anomaly scan) is the most important X-ray. It shows whether the child's organs such as hands, feet, heart, liver are well-formed (whether there is any defect). It is also known where the placenta lies.
3. The third USG (at 8 or 9 months - Growth Scan) is done to check how much the baby weighs, whether the amount of water (amniotic fluid) in the stomach is sufficient, and whether the baby is upside or down. It helps to plan how to deliver.

So what are the blood, urine and other necessary tests?

On the way to the hospital, the doctor or nurse prescribes some blood and urine tests. Why do you need these tests?

1. Blood group: It is very important to know whether the mother's blood group is positive or negative. If it is negative then special medicine have to be injected.

2. Hemoglobin in the blood

The amount of blood in the body is measured. 'Anemia' meaning lack of blood is seen a lot in sisters in villages. If there is less blood then on the advice of the doctor one should eat by adding iron supplement in diet.

3. Blood sugar and BP: There is a risk of increased sugar and pressure during pregnancy, which puts both the mother and the baby at risk. So do not forget to measure the pressure every time you go to the hospital.

4. Urine testing is done to see if there is an infection in the urine and if the protein is broken down.

5. HIV, Hepatitis B and VDRL are early screening to ensure that these transmitted diseases do not pass from mother to child.

6. The tetanus vaccine (Td) should be used twice during pregnancy to protect the baby and mother from tetanus.

Danger signs (especially in rural areas)

Sisters, the time for testing is in its place. But if any of these signs of danger appear during pregnancy, lasting for months or weeks, immediately go to the hospital:

• Bleeding from the vagina or breakdown of water 
• A sudden onset of severe pain
• Severe pain in the head or eye
• Hands, feet, or face suddenly numb
• Fever more than 100 degree
• After 6 months, if the baby's movement decreases or stops

The government of Nepal also provides transportation expenses and free services under the 'Mother Protection Program' when giving birth at a health post or government hospital. So, never make the mistake of doing delivery in the house. Go to the health post or hospital and get a safe delivery.

Pregnancy is a beautiful journey to bring a new life to the earth. Get tested on time and stay healthy.

Click here for video: 

Simple Home Remedies to Control Blood Sugar Naturally

 Struggling to control your blood sugar even with medicine? Discover the best ways to manage your sugar levels here

"I will share some home remedies for controlling blood sugar:

Portion Control: Don't eat too much at once. If you used to eat three large meals a day, try splitting that same amount of food into five smaller meals throughout the day.

Light Activity: After eating, walk slowly for 10 to 15 minutes. Even walking back and forth inside your house is beneficial.

Avoid Sugar: Avoid sugar as much as possible, including sugar in tea and coffee.

Fruit Choices: Limit high-sugar fruits like mangoes, bananas, grapes, lychees, and pineapples. Instead, choose fruits with lower sugar content, such as kiwi, papaya, pears, guava, oranges, apples, and watermelon.

Healthier Grains: For breakfast/lunch, replace white rice with brown rice or maize grits (makai ko aato).

Snack Wisely: For afternoon snacks, avoid foods made from refined flour (maida). Opt for millet (kodo) or buckwheat (phapar) roti instead.

Dinner: For dinner, eat dry roti with vegetables, but keep it light—just 2 to 3 pieces.

Dairy & Protein: You can consume milk, curd, and buttermilk (mohi). Also, include plenty of green leafy vegetables and lentils (daal) in your diet.

Rest: Ensure you get 6 to 8 hours of sleep.

Monitoring: Keep checking your blood sugar levels regularly.

If these tips have helped you reduce your sugar levels, please comment below!"

My Personal Pregnancy Journey/ Managing Diabetes and Intrahepatic Cholestasis During Pregnancy

 My Pregnancy Journey

Once you start planning for a pregnancy, you begin searching for all sorts of things on Google and YouTube. I also searched extensively for the symptoms that appear before a missed period. Today, I am sharing my personal experience regarding the symptoms I felt before my period stopped. I am a very sensitive person and can feel even minor changes in my body.

Early Symptoms and Discovery

On the 15th day of my cycle, I experienced significant abdominal pain. My ovulation usually occurs around day 15 or 16, and typically, my breasts would become very sore immediately after ovulation. However, this time, even by day 20, there was no breast pain. I began to wonder, "Could I be pregnant this time?" By day 25, with still no pain, I was 99% sure because this had never happened before. In the previous two months, my cycle had been 29 days.

Around day 27, my breasts finally started hurting, and I had lower back pain. It felt like my period was about to start, but the pain was different—it felt like sharp, localized stabs in the muscles. I also became extremely thirsty and hungry. At that point, I was certain. On day 34, I tested using a kit with the first morning urine, and it was positive.

The First Trimester

I had heard about implantation bleeding, but I didn't experience any. After the positive result, the hunger and thirst continued. I had occasional abdominal pain, but it would disappear after 10–15 seconds. At six weeks, I had my first ultrasound. The gestational sac was visible, but nothing else could be seen yet. They also found a 6 cm cyst, and the doctor asked me to return in two weeks.

At eight weeks, I had another scan. This time, the heartbeat was there! The cyst was still the same size. While I felt slightly nauseous if my eating schedule was off, I didn't actually vomit. Around nine weeks, perhaps due to eating out, I had two days of severe stomach pain and gastric-related diarrhea, but it cleared up on its own. I felt more tired than usual and slightly short of breath.

Screenings and the Second Trimester

At 12 weeks, I had the NT/NB scan, and the report was normal. Surprisingly, the cyst was no longer visible. At 13 weeks, the doctor prescribed iron and calcium supplements and I received my Tdap vaccination.

By 15 weeks, I had another scan to check on the cyst; it had shrunk from 6 cm to 3.5 cm. At this stage, I hadn't started the supplements yet. I was trying to fulfill my requirements through food—eating beetroot and pomegranate for iron, and consuming milk, curd, and buttermilk for calcium. I decided that if I faced a deficiency later, I would take the medicine, but for now, I’d stick to a natural diet.

Around 15 weeks, I felt a "fluttering" or "rumbling" in my stomach. I wondered if it was the baby moving, but it felt more like internal gurgling. At 19 weeks, a check-up showed my iron levels had dropped, so I started taking iron (morning and night) and calcium regularly.

The Anomaly Scan and Movement

At 21 weeks, I had the Anomaly Scan. Everything was healthy, and the baby weighed 426 grams. The report noted an anterior placenta. Once the results came back clear, I felt a huge sense of relief. By 22 weeks, I finally began to feel the baby move distinctly. It was such a peaceful and wonderful feeling! I don't notice it as much while working or walking, but I feel it clearly when sitting still. Now, I find myself wanting to sit quietly just so I can feel the baby move.

Gestational Diabetes and Complications

At 25 weeks, I took the GCT (Glucose Challenge Test) with 50g of glucose. My sugar level was 153 mg/dL. Because it was high, I had to take the OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) with 100g of glucose while fasting. They tested my blood at fasting, then at 1, 2, and 3 hours after the drink. The results were high again, and I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes.

The doctor suggested medication or insulin, but I wasn't ready to start meds immediately. I spent a week monitoring my levels at home after strictly controlling my diet. I cut out all sweets. My routine was:

8:00 AM: Brown rice with vegetables or corn grits (aato).

11:00 AM: Pear, kiwi, or half an apple.

1:30 PM: Buckwheat (phapar) or millet (kodo) roti.

6:00 PM: 4 cashews, 2 walnuts, 4 almonds, 6 pistachios.

9:00 PM: 2 dry rotis with vegetables.

Exercise: I walked for 15 minutes after every meal.

Initially, my sugar was controlled. However, by 28 weeks, the levels rose again. The stress kept me awake at night, and the numbers remained high despite the diet and exercise. Realizing that stress is worse for the baby, I consulted my doctor and started taking Metformin.

Final Stretch

At 32 weeks, a scan showed the baby weighed 1920 grams. Everything seemed fine, though I occasionally felt breathless. Then, I started experiencing itchy skin at night, and my urine and stool became very yellow, despite drinking plenty of water. Suspecting something, I had a Liver Function Test (LFT). My liver enzymes were elevated.

The doctor prescribed UDCA (Ursodeoxycholic Acid), but my body struggled to tolerate it, leading to severe diarrhea. My sugar levels also fluctuated, and the liver enzymes increased further. The doctor has now ordered a Bile Acid test and a CTG (Cardiotocography).

Now I have to take my medications for both diabetes and liver function. Based on the doctor's advice, the plan is to deliver the baby at 38 weeks. So far, as I approach that mark, I haven't faced any further major complications.

Finally I delivered a baby at 38.3 weeks by C-section.