Pregnancy is a beautiful period full of happiness. But pregnant women are accompanied not only by happiness and positive emotions but also by uncertainty. There's an abundance of information about pregnancy in both literature and online, but to get precise answers to all the questions on your mind, you should entrust your pregnancy care to a professional doctor. Pregnancy care is an increasingly popular service that lets the expectant mother feel calm and secure throughout the pregnancy about both her own health and that of the foetus. We talk about the professional side of gynaecological care with AND klinika gynaecologist Diana Petrauskienė:

– Why did you choose pregnancy care in particular? – I've worked in both gynaecology and obstetrics for many years, and in 2013 I was offered the chance to specialise as a prenatal care specialist. Although most of my clients now are pregnant women, quite a few of them remain my patients after the birth too.

– What does the current “official” calendar of compulsory visits for a pregnant woman look like? – Under the current order of the Minister of Health, the family doctor oversees the pregnancy, while the obstetrician-gynaecologist examines her only twice and gets involved only when a risk arises. That really isn't enough, so AND KLINIKA makes sure patients visit more often – 4–5 times. Not only ultrasounds or the compulsory glucose tolerance tests are needed, but also regular preventive visits.

– What principles do you follow in your work? – A doctor's work shouldn't be “I've done my hours, closed the door and left”: you have to take an interest in a person's test results, call if you promised to, and not forget to do it. In the last week women are seen off, but we stay in touch, take an interest in how the birth went and answer any questions that arise. Later we examine them again after the pregnancy.

– What problems most often accompany expectant mothers? – Nausea, vomiting at the start of pregnancy, abdominal pain, bleeding, spotting, and sometimes accompanying illnesses. And straight away it's worrying, and no one wants to wait long for an appointment. But women know they can call, ask or visit at any time.

– What are the biggest mistakes women make during pregnancy? – They eat a lot and gain a lot of weight. You need to eat little, in small portions, but by no means for two. Linked to this is not only weight but also swelling, aches and difficulties during birth. If the pregnancy is normal, without complications, movement is essential – the pool, exercise for pregnant women, yoga. This is very important for both mother and child.