Tamara Hospital

Pregnancy is the most joyful and wonderful time in a woman’s life. During pregnancy a woman goes through a lot of changes both physically and mentally. Therefore during this time she needs a lot of attention, love and care. We at TAMARA with an experience of 35 plus years in woman health care understand and cater to the needs of a woman during pregnancy, to give her the best treatment with tender love and care. 

We have Gynecologists and doctors who are among the best in Bangalore.

We have state of the science ultrasound scanning machines which give out revolutionary 3D and 4D images of the feotus so that we can check the progress of the feotus.

We have a high end computerized lab so that we can routinely monitor the health of a pregnant woman.

We have counselors to guide you through your pregnancy and mental needs.

We have dieticians to help you with your fitness and nutritional needs.

We have well equipped boutique rooms to make your maternity stay a pleasant one.

We also offer painless delivery for women who opt for it.

Our well trained staff will provide you service that spells tender love and care.

Antenatal care is the medical care given to a pregnant woman and the foetus. 
Prenatal care is the regular check-up of a pregnant woman that allow doctors to treat and prevent potential health problems throughout the course of the pregnancy and at the same time helping her to maintain a healthy lifestyles that will benefit both mother and the child.
During check-ups the women will receive information from the gynecologist over the physiological changes during pregnancy, the biological changes, and prenatal nutrition requirements. She will also receive counseling on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Routine prenatal care reducesthe risk of miscarriages as well as birth defects, low birth weight, and other preventable health problems.
Prenatal care generally consists of:

Monthly visits during the first two trimesters (from week 1–28)

Fortnightly from 28 to week 36 of pregnancy

Weekly after week 36 (delivery at week 38–40)

Assessment of parental needs and family dynamic

Ultrasound scanning to check the progress of the foetus.

A pregnancy is considered high-risk when there are potential complications that could affect the mother, the baby,or both. High-risk pregnancies require management by a specialist to help ensure the best outcome for the mother and baby.
Risk Factors for High-Risk Pregnancy 
Reasons that a pregnancy may be considered high risk include:
Maternal Age. One of the most common risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy is the age of the mother-to-be. Women who will be under 17 or over 35 when their baby is due are at greater risk of complications than those between their late teens and early 30s. The risk of miscarriage and genetic defects further increases after age 40.
Medical conditions that exist before pregnancy. Conditions such as high blood pressure;breathing, kidney, or heart problems; diabetes; autoimmune disease; sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); or chronic infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can present risks for the mother and/or her unborn baby. A history of miscarriage, problems with a previous pregnancy or pregnancies, or a family history of genetic disorders are also risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy.
If you have a medical condition, it's important to consult your doctor before you decide to become pregnant. Your doctor may run tests, adjust medications, or advise you of precautions you need to take to optimize the health of you and your baby.
Medical conditions that occur during pregnancy. Even if you are healthy when you become pregnant, it is possible to develop or be diagnosed with problems during pregnancy that can affect you and your baby. Two of the more common pregnancy-related problems are:

Preeclampsia is a syndrome that includes high blood pressure, urinary protein, and swelling; it can be dangerous or even fatal for the mother or baby if not treated. With proper management, however, most women who develop preeclampsia have healthy babies.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes may have healthy pregnancies and babies if they follow the treatment plan from their health-care provider. Usually the diabetes resolves after delivery. However women with gestational diabetes are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Pregnancy-related issues. Often a pregnancy is classified as high risk because of issues that arise from the pregnancy itself and that have little to do with the mother's health. These include:

Premature labor is labor that begins before the 37th week of pregnancy -- the point at which the baby is deemed full-term. Although there is no way to know which women will experience preterm labor or birth, there are factors that place women at higher risk, such as certain infections, a shortened cervix, or previous preterm birth.

Multiple births means you are carrying more than one baby (twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc.). Multiple pregnancies, which are more common as women are using more infertility treatments, increase the risk of premature labor, gestational diabetes, and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure.

Placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta covers the cervix. The condition can cause bleeding, especially if a woman has contractions. If the placenta still covers the cervix close to delivery, the doctor may schedule acesarean section to reduce bleeding risks to the mother and baby.

Fetal problems, which can sometimes be seen on ultrasound. Approximately 2% to 3% of all babies have a minor or major structural problem in development. Sometimes there may be a family history of fetal problems, but other times these problems are completely unexpected.

Lamaze, is a prepared childbirth technique developed in the 1940s by French obstetricianDr. Fernand Lamaze. The goal of Lamaze classes is to "increase women's confidence in their ability to give birth." Toward that end, women learn a variety of simple coping strategies, of which breathing is one of them. The classes aim to help women "learn how to respond to pain in ways that both facilitate labor and increase comfort."

Our doctors respect a woman’s right to choose the method of her delivery. If you wish to aim for a vaginal birth then she will support you fully in this choice. Similarly, if you choose to have an elective Caesarean Section she will support you fully in this choice.
It is important to recognize the signs of labor so that you will know when you are experiencing the "real thing." If this is your first baby, you will most likely experience lightening (the descent of the baby's head into your pelvis) sooner than women who have already had other children. Typically, the signs of labour include uterine contractions, tightening of your stomach, and cramps in your low back. About two thirds of women experience these tightening before their waters break. About one third will notice fluid leaking out first. If you are unsure about what is happening, contact your doctors office.
You may also be interested in taking childbirth preparation classes (Lamaze / yoga), which teach coping methods for labor and delivery, and helps guide new parents in the many decisions they will make before and during the birth process. One of the things you may be most concerned with is the amount of pain you may experience during labor. Childbirth is different for all women, and no one can predict how much pain you will have. During the labor process, our doctors and nurses will ask you if you need pain relief, and will help you decide what option is the best for you. Your options may include a local or intravenous analgesic (pain relieving drug) or else an epidural (injection which blocks pain in the lower part of your body.

It is the care given to the mother and baby in the days and weeks after childbirth which includes themother's and the baby's physical, psychological and practical needs. 
Postnatal care is 

To see if the woman has returned to her pre pregnant state.

To monitor and ensure healthy development of the baby.

Help the mother (and family) to adapt and successfully fulfill the role and responsibilities of motherhood.

To give the mother sufficient rest and support after the physical exertion of the labour itself which involves allowing the new mother to rest as much as she feels she needs to whilst providing comfort, food and plenty of drinks in order for her to recover and to produce plenty of breast milk if she is considering breast feeding.

The doctor will check to make sure that the mother and baby remain well, physically, psychologically and emotionally, and will look out for any signs of early postnatal complications.
Some complications are listed below:

Persistent or unusually heavy or abnormal bleeding from the womb.

Signs of infection of a caesarean section wound.

Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts (i.e., via lactation) rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for six months or more, without the addition of infant formula or solid food.
The experience of breastfeeding is special for so many reasons – the joyful bonding with your baby, the cost savings, and the health benefits for both mother and baby.
Benefits of breastfeeding for baby
Your breast milk is the perfect food for your baby. It protects your baby against gastroenteritis and diarrhoea, ear and chest infections, allergies and diabetes.
Benefits of breastfeeding for mothers
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of bleeding after the birth, helps you return to pre-pregnant weight, is convenient and costs nothing. Breastfeeding also protects you against breast and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.

Anemia is decrease in red blood cells in blood, which can lead to a lack of oxygen-carrying ability and causing unusual tiredness. The deficiency occurs either through the reduced production or an increased loss of red blood cells. Red blood cells are produced in the Bone marrow, and their average life expectancy is about 120 days. To produce red blood cells, the body needs (among other things) iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid. If there is a lack of one or more of these ingredients, anemia will develop. 
Causes

Poor intake of iron in diet. Iron is needed to make red blood cells. When women loose blood, they also loose iron. This happens in pregnancy due to the fact that the woman must supply iron to both herself and her baby. Iron is replaced by vitamin supplements or in the diet.

Folic acid deficiency. Folic acid is a Vitamin B, which is needed to produce red blood cells.

Chronic illness

Blood Loss from bleeding hemorrhoids or gastrointestinal bleeding

Even if iron and folic acid intake are sufficient, a pregnant woman may become anemic because pregnancy alters the digestive process. The unborn child consumes some of the iron or folic acid normally available to the mother's body.

Signs & Symptoms
The symptoms such as tiredness and general weakness will be similar to those of any other type of anemia. In severe cases, the woman will be short of breath even at rest.
If the anemia is prolonged, other signs of iron-deficiency anemia may develop such as a smooth shiny tongue and tenderness of the skin at the corners of the mouth. However, these advanced signs are rare. 
Diagnoses
Routine blood tests during ante natal care shows low hemoglobin concentration as well as the characteristic small, pale red blood cells under the microscope (in the case of iron deficiency anemia).
The diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia can be confirmed by measuring the amount of storage iron as well as the levels of iron binding proteins in the blood. The diagnosis of folate deficiency is confirmed by estimating the red blood cell folate levels.
Course of anemia
Patients with severe anemia are more likely to delivery early and have small babies. Women with severe anemia may have symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath and headaches.
Birth is also associated with blood loss. Therefore, if a woman is anemic, she should take iron for several months after delivery in order to help the body replace the lost blood cells and iron stores. Breast feeding women may also need to take iron because iron is lost in breast milk.
As long as the anemia is treated and corrected, there should be no problems.
Management
A well balanced diet is always recommended but iron and folate supplementation is indicated in pregnancy. 
When the anemia is caused by lack of iron, it is treated with iron supplements, preferably ferrous sulphate tablets. These supplements should not be taken more than twice daily, since the side effects of iron are increased in doses of more than two daily. The side effects are stomach upsets and constipation which are problematic in pregnancy.