Supporting each stage of a new beginning.
Understanding each step and having time for questions matter during pregnancy. From preconception preparation to postnatal care, your follow-up plan reflects your medical history and assessment findings.
From preconception counselling to postnatal maternal health, we plan the process together; every week has its own question and its own test.
Who it is for
Women who are planning a pregnancy, who are pregnant or who are in the postnatal period.
At the consultation
Examination, ultrasound assessment, screening tests and a plan based on the week of pregnancy.
Next step
A week-by-week follow-up schedule; the birth is planned in hospital.
Areas of assessment
- Preconception counselling
- Pregnancy consultations and routine follow-up
- Assessment of higher-risk pregnancy
- Ultrasound assessment
- Laboratory and screening tests
- Assessment of fetal development
- Diabetes and hypertension in pregnancy
- Preparing for birth and birth planning
- Postnatal maternal health
What happens during the consultation?
At your first consultation, your health history, current concerns and expectations are listened to. You can bring previous test or examination results. After the necessary assessments, the options suitable for you and a follow-up plan are discussed together.
- Preconception consultation
- Week-by-week schedule: examinations, ultrasound, screening tests
- Birth planning and postnatal check-up; referral to a perinatology specialist when needed
Limits and evidence
- The double test and NIPT are screening tests and do not give a diagnosis; a diagnosis is made by chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis.5
- In a higher-risk pregnancy, follow-up is more frequent; perinatology is a separate subspecialty, and referral to a perinatology specialist is made when needed.1
- The glucose tolerance test is safe; the sugar given does not harm the baby.7,10
Frequently asked questions
How many check-ups should I have during pregnancy?
The Turkish Ministry of Health guideline provides for at least four quality follow-up visits for every pregnant woman; the World Health Organization recommends at least eight contacts. In a higher-risk pregnancy, follow-up is more frequent; the schedule is drawn up together at the first consultation.1,2
What do the first ultrasound and the 11–14 week screening show?
The ultrasound at weeks 11–14 confirms that the pregnancy is viable, clarifies how many weeks pregnant you are, identifies a multiple pregnancy, screens for chromosomal conditions by measuring nuchal translucency, and can detect some major structural problems early.3
When is the detailed ultrasound scan done?
A systematic anatomy scan is recommended for all pregnant women in the middle of the second trimester, usually at weeks 18–22; the baby is assessed organ by organ, including the four chambers of the heart and the outflow vessels.4
Does the glucose tolerance test harm the baby?
Which test is done for Down syndrome, and does it give a diagnosis?
Screening of fetal DNA from the mother’s blood (NIPT) can be offered to all pregnant women regardless of age and risk, and it is the most sensitive screening test; however, it is a screening test and does not give a diagnosis. After a positive result, chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis is needed for a diagnosis.5
What is done if I am at risk of pre-eclampsia?
In high-risk situations such as pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, chronic hypertension, diabetes, or kidney or immune system disease, or if there is more than one moderate risk factor, the preventive treatment recommended by your doctor is started at weeks 12–16 and continued until birth; blood pressure and urine checks become more frequent.8
Can I exercise during pregnancy?
In an uncomplicated pregnancy, at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week is recommended. Women who were active before pregnancy can continue the exercise they are used to with their doctor’s approval; which movements to avoid is discussed at the consultation.9
When should I start taking folic acid?
400 micrograms of folic acid a day is recommended for women planning a pregnancy. Because development of the nervous system is completed in the first weeks of pregnancy, the aim is to start at least three months before pregnancy and continue for the first twelve weeks.11
With any surgical or interventional procedure, results may vary from person to person. It is recommended that you obtain a detailed opinion from your doctor before the procedure.
Hospital Partnerships & SurgerySources
- Turkish Ministry of Health — Doğum Öncesi Bakım Yönetim Rehberi [Antenatal Care Management Guideline] (2018) (opens in a new tab)
- WHO ANC (2016) (opens in a new tab)
- ISUOG 11–14 hafta (2023) (opens in a new tab)
- ISUOG mid-trimester (2022) (opens in a new tab)
- SMFM Consult Series #74 (2025) (opens in a new tab)
- ACOG Practice Advisory (2026) (opens in a new tab)
- ACOG Clinical Practice Update (2024) (opens in a new tab)
- ACOG PB 222 (2020) (opens in a new tab)
- ACOG CO 804 (2020) (opens in a new tab)
- TJOD — glucose tolerance test in pregnancy (in Turkish) (opens in a new tab)
- HSGM — Gebelik Döneminde Beslenme [Nutrition During Pregnancy] (in Turkish) (opens in a new tab)
This information is educational and is not a personal diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Assessment and follow-up are tailored to you during a medical consultation.