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While your caregiver will offer all these tests and interventions, it's up to you to accept them. They don't typically ask you if you want them However, you can ALWAYS have a choice and can opt out and say no. Even if you say no, your doctor is not likely to "fire" you or refuse you care. More often than not, they'll just think you're weird.You might also be interested in reading the following:
- hospitals and birthing centers in Korea
- home births in Korea
- doulas and birthing professionals in Korea
- birth plans for Korea
Tests and Interventions Done Prenatally in General
- Ultrasounds, weight, and blood pressure are done at every doctor's visit.
- Being told not to gain too much weight or even go on a diet if you're overweight.
- No medicine offered to help with morning sickness.
- Flu shot.
- Monthly visits until about 28 weeks.
- Blood and urine tests during the first visit to test for things such as protein in your urine, thyroid function, liver function, Hep B, titers for immunities to childhood disease, blood type, and HCG level.
- Pap smear during the first visit to test for abnormalities and STDs.
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) done between 10-13 weeks if you're over 35 or high risk.
- 4D ultrasound done around 12 weeks as part of the Nuchal Translucency (NT) test.
- First trimester screening around 12 weeks which involves the NT test and blood test to test for chromosomal abnormalities.
- Monthly visits until about 28 weeks.
- Amniocentesis done between 15-20 weeks if you're over 35 or high risk.
- Triple or Quad test done between 15-20 weeks to test for chromosomal abnormalities.
- Flu shot during winter.
- Gestational diabetes (GDM) test done between 24-28 weeks.
- Visits every two weeks between about 28-36 weeks.
- Weekly visits from 36 weeks until you give birth.
- Rhogam shot given around 28 weeks to Rh- moms.
- Blood test to check for anemia and cholesterol levels done between 28-32 weeks.
- Internal ultrasound / exam to check cervical length done between 28-32 weeks.
- Urine tests done between 28-36 weeks to check for protein in your urine.
- DTaP shot after 32 weeks.
- Non-Stress Test done around 36 weeks.
- Group B Strep (GBS) test done around 36 weeks.
- X-Ray done around 36 weeks to rule out tuberculous. Not as commonly done as before.
- EKG done around 36 weeks to check for abnormalities that might interfere with medicine given during birth.
- Induction at 41w3d.
- Induction done after 12 hours of water breaking if 36+ weeks.
- Vaginal exam upon admittance and then every hour.
- Monitoring blood pressure and temperature.
- Fetal monitoring for 15-20 minutes every hour using a belt strapped across the mom's belly.
- Enemas.
- Shaving of pubic hair.
- IVs for fluids, antibiotics, and/or glucose.
- No food or drink during labor.
- Birthing on your back.
- Episiotomies (an incision made from the vaginal wall).
- Pitocin.
- Coached pushing aka purple pushing.
- Immediate clamping of the umbilical cord.
- Pitocin and massage to birth the placenta.
- "Emergency" C-sections. The rate for Korea is about 33%, which is the same as the USA.
- Rhogam shot given up to 72 hours after given birth if the mom is Rh negative.
Tests and Interventions Done Postpartum
- Suctioning the baby's airway after birth.
- Washing the baby with soap and water.
- Taking the baby away immediately to be weighed and measured.
- Taking the baby to the nursery.
- NICU: Seeing your baby twice a day for 20 minutes. Info about NICUs in Korea.
- Feeding the baby formula and/or sugar water.
- Erythromycin Eye Ointment.
- Vitamin K shot.
- Hepatitis B shot.
- PKU test done between 3-4 days old.
- Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) shot for TB given around 2 weeks.
- Staying 3 days (if a vaginal birth) - 5 days (if a C-section).
- Check-up at 6 weeks for the mom.
Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.
