What is the normal heart rate for pregnant women?

Pregnant women will go to the hospital for regular prenatal checkups after they become pregnant. During the checkups, their heart rate will inevitably be detected. The heart rate of pregnant women is generally higher than that of ordinary people. So if you find that your heartbeat is too fast during the checkup, don't worry too much. Keep a calm mind so that your fetus can grow and develop more healthily.

1. B-ultrasound, intuitive monitoring of the baby's development

Normally, the best time to undergo this examination is between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, when most possible problems with the fetus can be identified. It can see the fetal body, head, fetal heartbeat, placenta, wool and umbilical cord, etc. It can find out whether the fetus is alive, whether it is a multiple birth, and even determine whether the fetus is deformed.

Usually the first time is between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, at which time it can be determined whether the pregnancy is single or multiple, and the fetal head circumference can be measured.

The second time is between 28 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, during which time we can learn about the development of the fetus, whether there are any surface deformities, and further understand the position of the fetus and the amount of amniotic fluid.

The third time is at 37-38 weeks of pregnancy. The purpose at this time is to determine the fetal position, fetal size, placental maturity, whether the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck, etc., to conduct a final evaluation before delivery.

2. Down syndrome screening to eliminate congenital defects

Down syndrome screening is a simple, economical, and non-destructive method to identify pregnant women at high risk of carrying a fetus with congenital idiocy. Down syndrome is one of the main causes of severe congenital intellectual disability, and every pregnant woman has the potential to give birth to a child with Down syndrome. The chance of having a baby with Down syndrome increases with the age of the pregnant woman.

You will have a test between weeks 14 and 20 of your pregnancy. The doctor will draw serum from the pregnant woman and test the concentration of alpha-fetoprotein and chorionic villus hormone in the maternal serum. Based on the pregnant woman's due date, age and gestational age at the time of blood collection, the risk factor of having a child with Down syndrome will be calculated. Higher levels of alpha-fetoprotein are associated with open neural tube defects. When women are 35 years old or older, this test can detect about 80% of fetuses with Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and neural tube defects.

3. Blood sugar monitoring to avoid the danger of high blood sugar

Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, there is an increased chance that a woman may develop or develop diabetes. High blood sugar levels during pregnancy can cause the fetus to be too large. Full-term macrosomic babies must be delivered by caesarean section. Diabetes may also cause stillbirth or malformations. If detected early, diabetes can be easily controlled through diet or insulin injections. At 24-28 weeks, you will have a diabetes screening test. The doctor will ask you to drink sugar water containing 50 grams of glucose, and then draw blood one hour after drinking it to test the blood sugar level.