Perinatologist gynecologist

A gynecologist-perinatologist is a doctor who prepares a pregnant woman for childbirth. Monitors, conducts various corrective and diagnostic work with the expectant mother throughout the pregnancy. Let's take a closer look at who a gynecologist-perinatologist is and what he does, and in what cases you should seek his help.

A doctor who prepares a pregnant woman for childbirth and observes her during the entire nine months of waiting for the baby is a gynecologist-perinatologist. The doctor studies the perinatal, that is, the period around childbirth, which is conventionally divided into the prenatal or antenatal period, the birth period and the week after childbirth or the postnatal period. The birth and postnatal periods have clear boundaries, but the prenatal period begins from the 28th week of pregnancy.

Thanks to perinatology, research into the physiology of the newborn and the pathophysiology of the fetus, as well as medical and diagnostic equipment, it has become possible to nurse newborns who were born prematurely with low birth weight and with pathologies. Babies who are born with low birth weight are the result of premature birth, which can occur without proper examination and consultation with a gynecologist-perinatologist and due to the bad habits of mothers.

Perinatology is known not only for its diagnostic methods, but also for intensive care of newborns. Intensive care refers to a set of measures that are provided to a baby born with asphyxia, that is, oxygen deficiency, methods of restoring breathing, cardiac activity, metabolism of all organs and blood flow. In addition, there is special equipment that allows you to monitor the performance of the main organs of a newborn who was born with disorders, pathologies or asphyxia.

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Who is a gynecologist-perinatologist?

Basically, this is a professional obstetrician who specializes in diagnosing pregnancies that are complicated and risky pregnancies. According to statistics, one in ten expectant mothers needs the help of a gynecologist-perinatologist. The doctor helps with serious problems during pregnancy and complications. In the case of a second pregnancy, a woman is required to visit a perinatologist, especially if the first pregnancy was complicated.

Regular visits to a gynecologist-perinatologist are good, but this does not give the right not to go to regular appointments with a therapist. The pregnancy process should be monitored comprehensively, both by a therapist and a gynecologist-perinatologist. Another feature of a gynecologist-perinatologist is his presence during childbirth. For the expectant mother, this is a guarantee that the birth will go well, especially since the process will be monitored by a doctor who has been monitoring the pregnant woman for nine months. During childbirth, the doctor is responsible for emergency care for the newborn and conducting various tests and diagnostics.

If you are going to your first appointment with a gynecologist-perinatologist, do not hesitate to ask questions that interest you, especially if this is your first pregnancy. A relaxed conversation with a competent specialist will allow the expectant mother to feel confident. For many mothers, a gynecologist-perinatologist is a person you can trust, a doctor with whom you can consult on a question related to pregnancy. Remember that it is better to ask a worrying question and solve the problem right away than to suffer from problems that can no longer be solved.

When should you contact a gynecologist-perinatologist?

When to contact a gynecologist-perinatologist is a question that torments many expectant mothers. Work with a doctor and examinations by a gynecologist-perinatologist should be done regularly, from the first month of pregnancy.

Please note that after your first visit to the doctor, an individual schedule of visits will be drawn up for you throughout your pregnancy.

• Typically, visits are scheduled every four weeks, that is, every month of pregnancy until the seventh month of pregnancy.
• From the eighth month of pregnancy, visits to the gynecologist-perinatologist should be every two weeks.
• In the last month of pregnancy, you will have to visit the doctor every week.

Such a schedule of visits will allow the pregnant woman to consult on all issues that arise and receive timely assistance. In addition, regular examination by a doctor will allow timely detection of possible pathologies and will guarantee a good outcome of pregnancy and a healthy baby.

What tests should you take when visiting a gynecologist-perinatologist?

When visiting a gynecologist-perinatologist, both the pregnant woman and the newborn baby must undergo a number of tests. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list of mandatory tests.

• Complete blood count.
• Hormonal analysis, especially thyroid hormones.
• General analysis for bilirubin infection.
• Testing for chronic herpes virus.
• Cytomegalovirus and blood test for phenylketonuria.
• Analysis of the Rh factor and blood group taking into account monoclonal antibodies.
• Analysis for toxoplasmosis, macoviscidosis and rubella.
• Blood from the heel of a newborn.

These are the tests that you need to take when visiting a gynecologist-perinatologist. The doctor himself will inform you about additional tests, diagnostics and necessary studies.

What diagnostic methods does a gynecologist-perinatologist use?

In their work, a gynecologist-perinatologist uses many methods that allow for comprehensive pregnancy monitoring. Standard diagnostic methods used by a gynecologist-perinatologist are:

• Accurate determination of the gestational age and estimated due date.
• Ultrasound scanning and Doppler study of fetal blood flow.
• Electrocardiography and X-ray examination.
• Phonocardiography.

These diagnostic methods allow the gynecologist-perinatologist to conduct comprehensive monitoring of the pregnancy. In case of complications during pregnancy, the doctor uses more gentle diagnostic methods so that the baby is born healthy without pathologies, and the birth is quick and without complications.

What does a gynecologist-perinatologist do?

The main task of a gynecologist-perinatologist is to monitor a pregnant woman. During the period of bearing a child, the doctor is obliged to conduct a lot of diagnostic tests in order to track possible pathologies of the newborn. If we talk about the tests that a gynecologist-perinatologist conducts, these are ultrasound, genetic and biochemical methods to detect congenital pathologies in the early stages of pregnancy. If irreversible pathologies are detected, the doctor prescribes treatment or indications to terminate the pregnancy.

The intrapartum or labor period is very important for a gynecologist-perinatologist. Since it is during this period that the doctor diagnoses and monitors the mother's condition, the labor process itself, and the condition of the newborn. Thanks to improved therapeutic and diagnostic technologies, a gynecologist-perinatologist has more opportunities to contribute to the birth of a healthy baby and a successful labor process. A gynecologist-perinatologist develops methods of intensive care for newborns, as well as methods that in practice allow saving babies with asphyxia, low birth weight, intracranial injuries, and children who were born premature.

What diseases does a gynecologist-perinatologist treat?

The main task of a gynecologist-perinatologist is to monitor a pregnant woman. If we talk about the diseases that a perinatologist treats, then all of them are related to pregnancy, diseases that can occur during pregnancy and complications during childbirth. Let's take a closer look at what diseases a gynecologist-perinatologist treats.

• Herpes in pregnant women.
• Arterial hypertension.
• Diseases of the kidneys, thyroid gland, liver.
• Congenital defects and pathologies.
• Severe toxicosis and vomiting.
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
• Various postpartum infections.
• Infectious diseases and lesions.
• Myasthenia gravis and Rh incompatibility.
• Placenta abruption and placenta previa.
• Premature birth and post-term pregnancy.
• Early rupture of membranes.
• Possibility of operations during pregnancy.
• Diabetes mellitus, lupus erythematosus and heart failure during pregnancy.
• Rheumatic heart disease, preeclampsia and eclampsia.
• Complications due to unhealthy lifestyle and drug use during pregnancy.
• Rheumatoid arthritis and congenital rubella.
• Mineral valve insufficiency or prolapse.
• Trophoblastic disease.

Let's look at the diseases that a gynecologist-perinatologist treats and that are most often encountered in the specialist's practice.

Birth trauma – damage to the peripheral and central nervous system. Birth trauma includes hemorrhages into the spinal cord and its membrane, spinal cord injuries, increased vascular permeability or rupture of the vascular system, rupture of the spinal cord, both complete and partial. Also, birth injuries to bones and joints, soft tissues, hemorrhages into the sternum, abrasions and hemorrhages under the periosteum. Injuries to the abdominal organs are also considered birth trauma. As a rule, the spleen, liver and adrenal glands are most damaged.

Asphyxia of newborns is a pathology in which the newborn has impaired breathing and as a result the baby has oxygen deficiency. Asphyxia can be primary, which occurs at birth, and secondary, that is, suffocation in the first days and hours of life.

This is a list of the main diseases that a gynecologist-perinatologist treats. All the work of a perinatologist is aimed at ensuring that pregnancy proceeds as well as possible, and nothing threatens the health of both the mother and the future baby.

Advice from a gynecologist-perinatologist

Advice from a gynecologist-perinatologist is practical advice for a pregnant woman and recommendations for improving the health of a newborn.

1. After the birth of a child, special attention should be paid to his motor activity during sleep. After birth, the baby sleeps almost all the time, but at this moment the child's body works and gains strength. It is necessary to monitor the breathing of a sleeping newborn, track the frequency of inhalations and exhalations and the phase of a long exhalation. If the baby does not have enough oxygen, then he begins to tremble in his sleep. This is a signal that the baby should be checked or the sheet should be adjusted, which may prevent him from breathing normally.

Do not hinder the baby's movement during sleep, as this is almost 50-60% of the time that the baby spends in the crib. Avoid tight swaddling, do not restrict the baby's movements, do not hinder his activity.

2. Carefully monitor the temperature and microclimate of the room where the newborn is. There should be a temperature difference between the environment and the baby's body. The greater the temperature difference, the more active and higher the muscle tone of the newborn, and this is a guarantee of normal development. But the temperature difference should be within reasonable limits.
3. Particular attention should be paid to the bathing process, as bathing is very important for a baby. The bathing procedure allows developing the child's innate ability to stay on the water, that is, afloat. By the way, a method has been developed for these purposes and works successfully, which allows teaching infants to swim.
4. Do not force the baby to move, all motor activity should be his initiative. In the first weeks of the baby's life, activity is caused by irritation of fingers, heels, palms, soles, which stimulate motor reflexes. Remember that it is very important to do everything possible to promote the free and independent development of the baby's activity and abilities.
5. Don't forget about preventive health massages for a newborn. From the first days, perform light massage procedures for the child - light, gentle stroking of his body.

Following all the above advice from a gynecologist-perinatologist will allow you to raise a healthy baby.

A gynecologist-perinatologist is a doctor who monitors the pregnancy process, helps treat the pregnant woman's illnesses and ensures that the baby is born without pathologies and that the birth process goes without complications.

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