Pregnancy care or taking care of the baby during pregnancy is of prime concern to a would-be-mum. There are certain things that a pregnant woman should do to take care of her baby. These are some simple guidelines that ensure good health of the mother and the baby in future and avoid complications.
Let us discuss how a woman can take care of her baby and herself too during pregnancy.
Take care of visits to the doctor during pregnancy
The first step towards caring for your unborn baby during pregnancy is to take prenatal check up and follow it religiously till delivery.
In your first checkup the doctor will note down your medical history. He will check for your weight and blood pressure. He will also physically examine you to check the shape and size of the uterus.
He may even recommend tests to know your hemoglobin level, sugar level, whether you have urine infection and also infectious diseases like syphilis etc. An ultrasound will let the doctor know about the baby’s position and growth in the uterus. If you have any physical problems the doctor may want to perform some other tests also.
Some of the tests will be performed repeatedly during pregnancy in your subsequent visits like your blood pressure and weight.
Taking care of you and baby during pregnancy
Care your weight gain during pregnancy
Weight gain indicates healthy growth of the baby during pregnancy. But how much weight gain during pregnancy is healthy will depend on the age and initial weight of the mother. Women who don’t weigh enough when they got pregnant need to make up. But for overweight women doctor may prescribe a strict diet to control weight gain and at the same time ensure baby’s healthy growth also. On an average a woman tends to gain 8-15 kg during the entire period of pregnancy of which she gains most in the third trimester.
Pregnancy Diet – diet care during pregnancy
The most important thing you can do to take care of your baby during pregnancy is by having a healthy and balanced diet. Your baby eats what you eat. So be extremely careful about what you consume in these 9 months.
Ensure that your diet comprises of all the nutrients from the five basic food groups.
You should take in adequate amounts of protein, fats, carbohydrates and green vegetables and fruits during pregnancy to care for you and baby. Your diet should provide you with all the essential nutrients like iron, calcium, folic acid and vitamins.
Consume plenty of dairy products to get enough calcium for you and your baby. Iron is also vital for a baby’s growth, so is folic acid which ensures proper development of a baby’s nervous system.
Your doctor may prescribe supplements of these nutrients to ensure that your baby gets them in right amount. Ideally you should start taking folic acid before getting pregnant.
Exercise and pregnancy care
One of the best way of pregnancy care is regular exercise. Exercising can help in easing out a lot of discomforts that arise during pregnancy. They also help in easy labor and delivery. Women who exercise during pregnancy get back to shape easily.
If you have been exercising before pregnancy you can continue with it. But you must take your doctor’s advice. Those who want to start with exercises should talk to their doctors first. You can start with Kegel’s exercises for an easy labor.
Supplements during pregnancy
Supplements should be taken only on doctor’s recommendations. Normally iron, calcium and folic acid are given as supplements.
Sex during pregnancy
Having sex during pregnancy is not harmful unless you have any complications. Your doctor is the best person to advice you.
Pregnancy care for working mothers
Working women often worry about working in their pregnancy. But, if the working conditions are good and you are not involved in standing for too long or lifting heavy things you can continue working. Being active during pregnancy is a good way to take care of your baby during pregnancy. You may discuss this with your doctor.
Vaccination for baby care during pregnancy
It is important to protect yourself and your baby from some diseases. Vaccination will help you in taking care of your baby during pregnancy. Infectious diseases complicate pregnancy. German Measles, Poliomyelitis, smallpox, diphtheria, whooping cough and chickenpox are some of the diseases you should protect yourself from. You should also avoid exposure to mumps and scarlet fever.
Don’t dos during pregnancy – pregnancy care
There are certain things which are strict no-no during pregnancy. You should follow these to take care of your baby.
- Avoid greasy and oily food during pregnancy as these may upset the baby. You should also avoid spicy, sugary, high calorie foods that add only harmful calories. Developing a healthy eating habit will ensure a healthy baby.
- Don’t smoke, consume drugs and drink caffeine and alcohol during pregnancy as these are proven to be harmful to the baby.
- Avoid taking OTC drugs during pregnancy as they may contain harmful chemicals. You should not take any pain-reliever or other medicines without consulting your doctor. Medicines may cause birth defects, especially in the first trimester so you should be very careful about them.
- Avoid supplements of vitamin A. Over-consumption of this vitamin through supplements can cause birth defects to your baby.
- Avoid contact with reptiles, cat litter boxes and also pesticides.
- Reduce stress during pregnancy as it can harm you health and your baby’s too.
Having a baby means a world full of wonders for a mother. To enjoy your motherhood, start bonding with your baby. Positive thinking, reducing stress levels, listening to good music, talking to your child, reading good books are all part of taking care of your baby during pregnancy and letting him know that you love.
Lead a holistic life and remember that taking care of yourself during pregnancy is the first step towards taking care of your baby.
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