I've had an abortion in the past. Will that be a problem for this pregnancy?
The fact that you’ve had a previous abortion is not likely to affect the health of another pregnancy at all. If there were no problems with your abortion it will not affect your future chances of becoming pregnant and it won’t increase your risk of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or low placenta. Studies have shown that there is a very small increased risk (around 1.5 percent) of premature birth linked to previous abortion.

Repeated abortions can cause damage to your cervix and increase your risk of late miscarriage.

Although you do not have to tell your midwife about a previous abortion, it’s best to mention it so that they have your full pregnancy history. Your midwife won’t judge you and they are unlikely to refer to it again. The information about your abortion doesn’t need to go into your pregnancy notes.

If you take someone along to your antenatal appointments and want to talk to the midwife about your abortion in private, your partner, family member or friend can wait outside for this part of the appointment. In fact, the midwife will normally want to speak with you alone at least once in case there is anything you’d like to talk about in confidence.

If it’s difficult to talk to the midwife alone during an antenatal appointment, you can ring your midwife and arrange to speak to her privately later.

I didn't realise I was pregnant until 12 weeks in. Can I still have all the tests?
It depends on which tests you want. Most of the tests that check your own health can be started whenever you begin your antenatal care – even if it’s later in pregnancy.

However, the screening tests that are offered through the NHS to check whether your baby is at higher risk of conditions such as Down’s syndrome can only be done at specific times in your pregnancy.

The ‘combined test’ uses three factors to check risk:

• A blood sample from you that measures two proteins
• An ultrasound scan ( nuchal translucency scan) of your baby that needs to happen between 11 weeks and 14 weeks of pregnancy
• Your age.

During the scan the sonographer measures the fluid at the back of the baby’s neck. This measurement will change after 14 weeks plus one day.

If you have your booking appointment later in your pregnancy, your midwife can offer you the ‘quadruple test’. This test uses two factors to check risk:

• A blood test that can be done from 14 weeks up until 20 weeks of pregnancy and that measures four proteins
• Your age.

It uses two factors to check risk:

• anultrasound scan to confirm the accurate dating of your pregnancy
• A blood test from you – this examines the small amount of your baby’s fetal cells that can be found in your blood.

The result of this test is said to be highly accurate, but it does give a small number (0.3 percent) of false positives. A false positive is where it tells you that your baby has Down’s but this is not true. If you get a positive result, you’ll still need a diagnostic test, such as CVS or amniocentesis, to confirm the result for certain.

If you are interested in having the test at a private clinic, the charity Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) suggests you check that the clinic has a clear link with an NHS unit. This means that there will be a co-ordinated care pathway in place if your test result is positive.

My friend has suggested I have a whooping cough vaccination. Why? Is it safe?

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a respiratory infection that develops into severe coughing fits. This illness can be very severe, especially in very young babies, and it can lead to hospitalisation and even death. The number of cases of whooping cough in the UK has risen among babies who are too young to have had their vaccinations. Because of this, the Department of Health has developed a vaccine for pregnant women to protect their babies against this illness until the babies can be immunised themselves.

You will be offered a whooping cough vaccination between 28 and 38 weeks of pregnancy to boost your levels of antibodies. These antibodies will then be passed on to your baby for protection until they get their first vaccinations at two months old.

Comprehensive research into the vaccine has shown that it’s very safe, with no ill-effects for pregnant women or their babies.

I’m pregnant and I work. How will I get time off for all those appointments?

Pregnant employees have legal rights, and this includes paid time off for certain activities. You are allowed to take time off work for antenatal appointments or antenatal and parenting classes. Your employer is breaking the law if they don’t give you time off to go to them. You should be paid at your normal rate for this time off. However, if you’re freelance or an agency worker, you may not be paid for the time off.

Your antenatal appointments are arranged in advance with your midwife, so it’s a good idea to give your employer as much notice as possible of your appointment times so that cover can be arranged if necessary.

The baby’s father or your partner also has the right to get time off to go to the appointments with you, but they don’t have to be paid.

I’m 13 weeks pregnant. Is it too late to take folic acid?
Folic acid is taken before the first 12 weeks of pregnancy as it supports the development of the neural tube. After 12 weeks it is not harmful to take but the neural tube will have grown and so it will not benefit from it.

Folic acid is a vitamin that helps in the early formation of your baby's neural tube, which will turn into the brain and the spine.

Because of this, it is recommended that women who are trying for a baby start taking folic acid before they become pregnant and then carry on taking it for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

By 12 weeks, the baby's neural tube will have closed and so it is not necessary to take folic acid, but it is safe to take all the way through your pregnancy if your pregnancy multivitamin tablets contain it.

It is unlikely that the lack of folic acid will have affected your baby’s development as the risk is small, but if you’re worried about not having taken folic acid during the early months of your pregnancy, talk to your doctor or midwife.

What can I do about stretch marks in pregnancy?
Stretch marks appear mostly on your stomach, breasts and thighs. They look like lines or streaks and they appear as your bump grows and your skin stretches.

Stretch marks are common and there’s not much you can do to avoid them or treat them. Some people get them and others don’t. Whether you get stretch marks or not can depend on your skin type – some people just have more elastic skin that can stretch easily without leaving a mark.

Skin is made up of three main layers – the epidermis (outer), the dermis (middle) and the subcutis (inner). Stretch marks happen when the middle layer of the skin is stretched and breaks. Mums-to-be who put on more than the average amount of weight and those who have twins or more are also more likely to get them.

Creams that claim to prevent or stop stretch marks are unlikely to have any effect. They won’t prevent the skin breaking because they can’t reach the middle layer or dermis.

Stretch marks will fade over time after your baby is born.

Who should come with me to my antenatal appointments?
It is completely up to you. You can take your partner, your mum, your sister, your friend, a social worker or anyone else who you feel will support you. Or you can go on your own if you prefer.

The booking appointment, which is the first appointment is the longest. The rest will be around 10-15 minutes long, if you are having an uncomplicated pregnancy. Read more about your schedule of appointments here.

If you decide to bring someone with you, the midwife may ask to see you on your own at least once in case there is anything you want to tell her that you don’t want to say in front of the other person.

If you already have a child, they are also allowed in with you.

Top 10 tips for heart-smart eating By Cara Rosenbloom, RD
Choosing better-for-you foods and using heart-smart cooking techniques can help you control risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol and elevated blood pressure. Here are 10 ways to be good to your heart.

• Cook heart-smart. Choose cooking methods that use less salt and calorie-laden fat. Steam, bake, broil or grill instead of frying. Reduce salt by avoiding bouillon or salty broth (use water instead); add lots of herbs and spices to enhance flavour. TRY: Making your own salad dressing and sauces.
• Choose whole grains. The fibre in whole grains like oats, quinoa, whole wheat and barley can help lower blood pressure. People who eat more whole grains have a 29 percent lower risk of heart disease compared to those who don’t. Aim for 3-4 servings each day. TRY: No-stir barley risotto.
• Nix trans fat. Linked to clogged arteries and high cholesterol, trans fat is a no-no for happy hearts. Even a small amount is harmful. While the use of hydrogenated oil with trans fat has declined, it may still be found in some cookies, crackers and baked goods. TRY: Reading Nutrition Facts labels and only choosing items with no trans fat.
• Control your portions. The amount we eat has increased over the past two decades. Choosing smaller portions can help limit calorie intake, which helps with weight control; being overweight is linked with heart disease. TRY: Using smaller plates and bowls.
• Cut back on sodium. More than 70% of Canadian adults exceed their upper limit of 2,300 mg of sodium per day, which raises the risk of high blood pressure. And more than three-quarters of that sodium comes from packaged foods. TRY: Cooking from scratch more often and comparing Nutrition Facts panels to choose products with less sodium.
• Max out vegetables and fruit. With their heart-healthy combo of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fibre, getting at least six daily servings of vegetables and fruit is a winning idea. TRY: Starting meals with salad, snacking on fruit, and filling half your plate with vegetable side dishes.
• Eat more beans. Legumes such as kidney beans, chickpeas and lentils are high in cholesterol-lowering fibre. 
TRY: Adding chickpeas or navy beans to salad, pasta and soup; throwing some in a blender with garlic, olive oil and lemon juice for homemade hummus; having edamame as an appetizer. TRY: Red beans and rice or Baked chickpea patties.
• Cook from scratch. When you control what goes into your food, you can cook with less salt, sugar and fat, and add more vegetables and whole grains. TRY: Heart and Stroke Foundation recipes to get started.
• Drink skim milk: Since getting two or three daily servings of low fat dairy products can help reduce blood pressure levels, it’s important to have milk and yogurt in your diet. TRY: Sticking with low-fat options such as skim or 1% milk and yogurt.
• Enjoy fish more often: The healthy omega-3 polyunsaturated fat found in fish may help decrease blood pressure and triglyceride levels, which helps lower heart disease risk. Aim for 2-3 servings (75 g) of omega-3-rich salmon, tuna, trout, sardines or mackerel each week. TRY: Enjoying salmon or tuna sandwiches or sushi, or Orange glazed salmon in with you.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Samyuktha Scans website. These are exciting yet challenging times at Samyuktha Scans and I hope our services creates immense satisfaction to our valued patients.

As I look at the growth over the years since our inception in 2011, I am extremely proud of what we have achieved, and even more excited about our outlook for an equally promising future. We have successfully transitioned our self from a start-up scan center to a Expert opinion Diagnostic service providing respected firm, garnering business from across Chennai irrespective of distance, while earning our patients' trust along the way.

When conveying Samyuktha Scans’ successes, I always return back to three guiding principles-each of which has helped define who we are today:

Talented People.
Among our most important assets is the extensive knowledge base, deep-rooted professionalism and unwavering commitment of our highly-qualified, diverse expert Radiologists, Sonologists, Consultants and our support staffs. Samyuktha ScansTeam is at the core of who we are and what we do. Samyuktha Scans Team is committed to delivering the highest quality diagnostic services and providing unparalleled quality reports to our patients.

Community Focus.
Simply put, Samyuktha Scans is committed to the communities in which we conduct business. We created a solid strategic blueprint for our Community Focus that serves as a guide for the use and deployment of technology-to fortify our vision of a Healthy community.

Honest Perspective.
As we continue to grow, each new day offers a chance for us to work together, pursue new opportunities and improve upon the past with respect to the quality of service, diagnosis and reports. We establish in-depth relationships with our patients and provide a correct diagnosis with a candid perspective. We continue to manage our business around the evolving needs of our patients, so that we can be at the forefront of change and deliver value to them.

I look forward to detailing all these and other developments at the appropriate time, and our website will remain the ideal source of updated information.

Smart Ventures is a success story that would not be possible without the contribution and support of our Consultants, well-wishers and Patients who have shared our incredible journey thus far. We look forward to continuing to serve and engage with them as well as other stakeholders in the future. We appreciate the ongoing support received from those who are interested in Samyuktha Scans’ activities and pledge to continue in our efforts to exceed expectations.

Thank you for taking the time to visit the Samyuktha Scans website and I wholeheartedly welcome any constructive feedback you may have.

Venkatkrishna AS
MD – Smart Ventures

Five Years of Excellence Built on a Commitment to Our Patients

Thanks to you – and our community

With the support of many Consultants – patients and their families, our Doctors and staff, as well as community partners – Samyuktha Scans has become the first International Diagnostic Company. We thank you for your commitment to consistent patient care, and helping us ensure it is available to people across our region and beyond. You have helped shape our success story – and the quality of Medical Diagnosis.

We sincerely thank our patients, community and region for their invaluable support of our vision “To continue to be the model diagnostic center by providing world-class preventative and curative diagnostic services to all segments of the society”.

In November, we celebrate a special milestone for Samyuktha Scans. It is our 5th anniversary and the event that changed our destiny. 

In just 5 years, the Samyuktha Scans has transformed itself from a facility facing enormous challenges to one of the Chennai’s top Diagnostic centers. 

The results are remarkable: 

• Consistently ranked among top preferred diagnostic center in Chennai by consultants and patients. *
• Samyuktha Scans having our operations at 10 locations in Chennai.
• 300% business volume increase in Laboratory Diagnostic services, after we started practicing NABL and CAP Standards.
• More than 80,000 patients diagnosed in Alwarthirunagar center in 5 years
• First Indian Diagnostic Company to have the operation activities started in Singapore.
• Trusted partner for Chennai’s top Fertility Specialists on fetal imaging.
• Set up a dedicated advanced High Risk Pregnancy Imaging facility in Chennai.

From my heart if I share, it wasn’t only your support, but your reassuring words, which gave us the strength to pull through over 5 years. Thanks for showering so much blessings and support and request you to continue the same in the days to come

Sincerely Yours,

Venkatkrishna AS

MD – Smart Ventures