Having a healthy baby is not something that happens automatically, it requires an intention on your part. Your intention should begin even before you get pregnant, by taking care of your body through consuming a balanced and healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, and taking supplements as recommended by your doctor.
While you are pregnant, there are a significant number of things that you can do to ensure that by the time your baby is born, they are at optimum health and ready to face all the challenges of the new world. Here are some actions that you can take to ensure you meet this goal.
Antenatal Care
From the moment you discover you are pregnant, you need to start on your antenatal care. Usually, you would have gone to the doctor for a blood test to confirm, and following a positive result, the doctor then schedules you for an appointment at the antenatal clinic. Your antenatal checks are going to be scheduled to begin between your 8th and 12th week of pregnancy. There are a different number of visits that you can expect, depending on which pregnancy you are on. If this is your first pregnancy, expect to have a minimum of ten antenatal visits. If it is your second pregnancy or more, then you will have approximately seven visits. These numbers may be altered if it is determined that your pregnancy is high risk,or you had a medical condition pre-pregnancy that could affect a healthy outcome. If you are having more than one baby, that is multiple births, you may also be given a different schedule for visits.
During your visits to the antenatal clinic, medical officers will gather certain information from you to help monitor the health of your baby during your entire pregnancy. This information includes the medical histories for both yourself and your partner. You will provide information on any allergies, chronic diseases, issues from previous pregnancies and so on. You will take a urine test every time you go for an antenatal checkup, and on occasion, you will need to do a blood test as well. The urine tests are administered to check up on your sugar levels, as these give a good indication of issues that could arise in your kidneys. You will also be checked for uterine tract and bladder infections which could become dangerous for the baby through the pregnancy.
The blood test also has several uses. First, it will be used to determine your blood group. This is basic information that needs to be easily available in the event that you need a blood transfusion at any point in your pregnancy. Your rhesus blood group is also determined, so that if it is necessary, you can be checked for rhesus antibodies as your pregnancy progresses.
At the beginning of your antenatal visits, a full and complete physical examination will be carried out. During this physical, your height will be measured. This gives an idea of the size of your pelvic inlet and outlet which could affect the possibility of you being able to deliver a large baby. Your weight will also be taken at the first visit, and at all subsequent visits. This is to ensure that your weight gain is on track, and also to ensure that you do not have any weight loss. If there are sudden changes in your weight, the midwife may find it easier to diagnose conditions like pre-eclampsia.
Another part of this physical examination will include taking a look at your breasts. They will
be checked for lumps, and your nipples will also be evaluated on this first visit. This way, it will be easier to assess changes as you go along with the pregnancy.
In your second semester, you may have the test done for chromosomal defects. There are particularly done for women who are older and those who have higher risks of pregnancy. This test helps rule out the possibility of any abnormalities in the baby, which could lead to Down’s syndrome or other similar conditions.
It is also during the second semester that the doctor begins to measure your baby, especially paying attention to their length, the size of the head and heartbeat. This is done using ultrasounds, which allows you to get a glimpse of your little one as they are developing inside you. Hearing their heartbeat will reassure you that indeed all is well inside the womb.
As you enter your third trimester, the checks extend from just your belly and weight to your hands and legs. This is to ensure that you have not developed varicose veins. You will also have your wrists and hands, ankles and feet checked for what could be termed as excessive swelling. If they are unnaturally puffy, it could be an indication that all is not well and that you are at risk of developing pre-eclampsia.
At every single visit, your blood pressure will be monitored. This is so as to ensure that it is normal throughout the pregnancy, as any increases or decreases will require immediate medical attention.
Do not be surprised if your midwife feels your belly at every visit. She is not simply rubbing it due to some strange fetish. She is actually performing an external examination of your abdomen, particularly searching for the top of the fundus which refers to the uterus. By being able to feel this, she will be able to tell some information about the size of your growing baby.
Be prepared to visit the antenatal clinic more often towards the end of your pregnancy. Doctor’s will be keener to ensure your safety and that of the baby as your delivery date approaches.
Change your bad habits
If you have been smoking, consuming alcohol or abusing drugs, you need to stop all these the moment that you discover you are pregnant. These substances can lead to serious developmental problems in your baby that can affect them for the rest of their lives. This is particularly important in the first trimester when all the cells are starting to take shape. If at this juncture you choose to abuse, then you are putting your child’s life in considerable danger.
Keep fit through your pregnancy
You need to ensure that you stay fit and get plenty of exercise during your pregnancy. This will help you to build up your stamina, especially for the birth, and will make it easier for you to bounce back to regular functioning once you have had the baby.
Exercise also has a host of mental and emotional benefits as well. The feel-good hormones that are released during a session of exercise help you to remain positive and have a positive outlook in regards to the child you are carrying. As you will likely be quite emotional throughout your pregnancy, this helps to keep those emotions in check.
You also become more aware of the changes that are happening in your body if you exercise. You will find it easier to identify something going wrong if you are in touch with yourself.
There are several maladies associated with pregnancy, especially tied to your muscles slowing down considerably. These include constipation, leg cramps, and backaches. The more you exercise, the easier it is for your muscles to function, ensuring that these maladies cease to affect you so deeply.
On the whole, exercising during pregnancy will increase the amount of energy that you have. This will help you feel better each day, especially if you are dealing with nausea and exhaustion. The exercises that you choose to do during this period are important, as you want to avoid straining your body as much as possible. Some of the exercises you should attempt are:
Swimming
This is perhaps the best way you can exercise when you are pregnant. The buoyancy of the water helps prevent you from placing additional strain on your body. Swimming is an excellent way to tone up the entire body, as well as allow you to safely stretch them.
Walking
A walk after meals will help you digest food much better. With the possibility of your colon getting backed up and intense constipation, this is a simple and effective way to ensure you remain comfortable. In addition to helping fix you up on the inside, walking is a good way to help you retain your figure, or at least prevent
yourself from getting too big through your pregnancy. Make sure that when you go walking, you wear flat and comfortable shoes which offer you excellent support.
Yoga
If you have any tension in your joints, this is the exercise for you. It will help you with your flexibility as well, and also, your breathing. As you prepare for labor, being able to breathe in deeply will help you manage your contractions much better. Your posture will also benefit as many women tend to pay less attention to posture during pregnancy which can lead to backaches.
When doing everyday activities, you need to be careful of your body movements if you want to offer adequate protection to your baby. For example, if you need to pick something up off the ground, do not bend down to pick it up. This will lead to you straining your back. Instead, make sure that you sit down or kneel and pick it up. Remember, your posture is important.
You should also avoid carrying heavy objects. Where possible, always ask for someone to help you if you need to lift something. If you have no choice and need to lift the item on your own, ensure that you get down by bending your knees and keeping your back straight. Lift it by straightening your legs rather than bending at the waist. Your baby will also benefit from any exercise that you do, as when you feel good so do they.
At the beginning of your antenatal visits, a full and complete physical examination will be carried out. During this physical, your height will be measured. This gives an idea of the size of your pelvic inlet and outlet which could affect the possibility of you being able to deliver a large baby. Your weight will also be taken at the first visit, and at all subsequent visits. This is to ensure that your weight gain is on track, and also to ensure that you do not have any weight loss. If there are sudden changes in your weight, the midwife may find it easier to diagnose conditions like pre-eclampsia.
Another part of this physical examination will include taking a look at your breasts. They will
be checked for lumps, and your nipples will also be evaluated on this first visit. This way, it will be easier to assess changes as you go along with the pregnancy.
In your second semester, you may have the test done for chromosomal defects. There are particularly done for women who are older and those who have higher risks of pregnancy. This test helps rule out the possibility of any abnormalities in the baby, which could lead to Down’s syndrome or other similar conditions.
It is also during the second semester that the doctor begins to measure your baby, especially paying attention to their length, the size of the head and heartbeat. This is done using ultrasounds, which allows you to get a glimpse of your little one as they are developing inside you. Hearing their heartbeat will reassure you that indeed all is well inside the womb.
As you enter your third trimester, the checks extend from just your belly and weight to your hands and legs. This is to ensure that you have not developed varicose veins. You will also have your wrists and hands, ankles and feet checked for what could be termed as excessive swelling. If they are unnaturally puffy, it could be an indication that all is not well and that you are at risk of developing pre-eclampsia.
At every single visit, your blood pressure will be monitored. This is so as to ensure that it is normal throughout the pregnancy, as any increases or decreases will require immediate medical attention.
Do not be surprised if your midwife feels your belly at every visit. She is not simply rubbing it due to some strange fetish. She is actually performing an external examination of your abdomen, particularly searching for the top of the fundus which refers to the uterus. By being able to feel this, she will be able to tell some information about the size of your growing baby.
Be prepared to visit the antenatal clinic more often towards the end of your pregnancy. Doctor’s will be keener to ensure your safety and that of the baby as your delivery date approaches.
Change your bad habits
If you have been smoking, consuming alcohol or abusing drugs, you need to stop all these the moment that you discover you are pregnant. These substances can lead to serious developmental problems in your baby that can affect them for the rest of their lives. This is particularly important in the first trimester when all the cells are starting to take shape. If at this juncture you choose to abuse, then you are putting your child’s life in considerable danger.
Keep fit through your pregnancy
You need to ensure that you stay fit and get plenty of exercise during your pregnancy. This will help you to build up your stamina, especially for the birth, and will make it easier for you to bounce back to regular functioning once you have had the baby.
Exercise also has a host of mental and emotional benefits as well. The feel-good hormones that are released during a session of exercise help you to remain positive and have a positive outlook in regards to the child you are carrying. As you will likely be quite emotional throughout your pregnancy, this helps to keep those emotions in check.
You also become more aware of the changes that are happening in your body if you exercise. You will find it easier to identify something going wrong if you are in touch with yourself.
There are several maladies associated with pregnancy, especially tied to your muscles slowing down considerably. These include constipation, leg cramps, and backaches. The more you exercise, the easier it is for your muscles to function, ensuring that these maladies cease to affect you so deeply.
On the whole, exercising during pregnancy will increase the amount of energy that you have. This will help you feel better each day, especially if you are dealing with nausea and exhaustion. The exercises that you choose to do during this period are important, as you want to avoid straining your body as much as possible. Some of the exercises you should attempt are:
Swimming
This is perhaps the best way you can exercise when you are pregnant. The buoyancy of the water helps prevent you from placing additional strain on your body. Swimming is an excellent way to tone up the entire body, as well as allow you to safely stretch them.
Walking
A walk after meals will help you digest food much better. With the possibility of your colon getting backed up and intense constipation, this is a simple and effective way to ensure you remain comfortable. In addition to helping fix you up on the inside, walking is a good way to help you retain your figure, or at least prevent
yourself from getting too big through your pregnancy. Make sure that when you go walking, you wear flat and comfortable shoes which offer you excellent support.
Yoga
If you have any tension in your joints, this is the exercise for you. It will help you with your flexibility as well, and also, your breathing. As you prepare for labor, being able to breathe in deeply will help you manage your contractions much better. Your posture will also benefit as many women tend to pay less attention to posture during pregnancy which can lead to backaches.
When doing everyday activities, you need to be careful of your body movements if you want to offer adequate protection to your baby. For example, if you need to pick something up off the ground, do not bend down to pick it up. This will lead to you straining your back. Instead, make sure that you sit down or kneel and pick it up. Remember, your posture is important.
You should also avoid carrying heavy objects. Where possible, always ask for someone to help you if you need to lift something. If you have no choice and need to lift the item on your own, ensure that you get down by bending your knees and keeping your back straight. Lift it by straightening your legs rather than bending at the waist. Your baby will also benefit from any exercise that you do, as when you feel good so do they.
