Pregnancy: Handy Tips
Medicine, particularly in the field of pregnancy and
childcare, has made great advances in the last decade or so and
has allowed a woman to plan well for a healthy pregnancy.
Taking adequate care and precautions even before you get
pregnant as well as during pregnancy will give you and your
baby the best start possible. With this in mind, we provide you
with some handy tips to keep in mind before you get pregnant as
well as during pregnancy.
1· When you start planning your pregnancy, the first
thing you should do is to meet with your OB/GYN. You want to
make sure that you are healthy and that you have no medical
concerns that may affect the baby. It also helps if you are
neither underweight nor overweight – it is not only easier to
get pregnant if you are in the recommended weight range but
your pregnancy will also be less risky. Finally, your doctor
may prescribe some folic acid supplements even before you get
pregnant.
2· Once you are pregnant, it is again very important that
you meet with your OB/GYN at the earliest. You will in all
likelihood be asked to undergo an ultrasound to see exactly
where you are in your pregnancy and if everything seems
allright with the baby.
3·Your OB/GYN will then discuss a list of dos and don’ts for
you to ensure a healthy pregnancy. He or she may certainly
prescribe a multivitamin containing sufficient folic acid to be
taken during pregnancy.
4· During your pregnancy, you should not only try hard to
eat balanced meals but avoid all kinds of junk food. For
example, even if you really crave for some ice cream, go in for
some low-fat yogurt. This will not only keep the fat intake
down but also provide you with enough calcium.
5·You should certainly quit smoking and avoid consuming alcohol
when you are pregnant. In fact, even second-hand smoke is
believed to have a harmful effect on the growing baby. Studies
have shown that babies born of mothers who did not quit smoking
had a greater chance of being born prematurely, having a very
low birth weight or of being affected by the sudden death
syndrome.
6· If you used to workout before getting pregnant, you can
still continue with your exercises. Consult your doctor on what
exercises you can or cannot do at every stage of your
pregnancy. Working out during pregnancy can actually help
relieve some of the more painful physical symptoms that affect
women during pregnancy like headaches and backaches. Make sure
you do not exercise to the point of exhaustion, when you are
pregnant.
7· While you do have to take care of your physical health
during pregnancy, you also need to look after your emotional
and mental well-being. Find friends, family members, even
support groups who understand your concerns and are willing to
spend time listening to you and allaying your fears. Heightened
anxiety during pregnancy can increase the risk factor at times
leading to pre-term deliveries or babies being born with low
birth weight.
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