The journey towards motherhood is truly remarkable. As a mother-to-be you can empower yourself to make the most of your pregnancy by being informed about and being prepared for the significant changes your body will go through as well as the fluctuating emotions that you might experience. This will help you to take the best possible health decisions for you and your baby.
Netcare provides the following tips:
Management of any chronic medical condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or epilepsy, is crucial for your and your baby’s health. Consult your health-care provider as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed, as your medication may need to be adjusted. Do not stop taking your medication without consulting your health-care provider. Also don’t use any over-the-counter medication without first talking to your doctor. If you are planning to fall pregnant you can consult your health-care provider even before conception on the continuation of chronic medication.
Practise good oral hygiene and visit your dentist during your pregnancy. Different hormonal levels, which are associated with pregnancy, may affect the health of your gums: plaque build-up, bleeding and inflammation or infection are more likely and may, in turn, damage to your teeth.
Ensure you stay adequately hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses (1,5 litres) of fluid, mostly water, every day. This also helps in preventing urinary tract and bladder infections. Limit tea and/or coffee intake as they both contain caffeine.
Eat a balanced diet and avoid the mindset that you have to eat for two. Do not eat raw protein, such as raw fish and meat, soft cheeses and condiments such as home-made mayonnaise or ice cream, which may contain raw eggs. Pregnancy suppresses your immune system so you’re far more susceptible to contracting serious illnesses from any food-borne organisms. Your doctor can advise you on what a healthy weight gain would be for your body and pregnancy.
Exercise , but play it safe. Exercise during pregnancy is beneficial for both mother and baby. Keeping moving helps minimise stiffness and aches, might alleviate constipation, helps you sleep better and lowers your risk of depression, gestational diabetes and other pregnancy-related conditions. It might even help you have a shorter, less complicated labour and to get your body back in shape easier and faster after delivery.
However, it is important to discuss your proposed exercise programme with your health-care provider before embarking on it as certain types of workouts and sports are not recommended. Exercising may also be detrimental to you and your baby’s well-being in certain circumstances or if you have particular medical conditions.
Get plenty of rest. Your body is taking more strain than usual, working hard to ensure that your baby is nurtured as he/she grows, so try to go to bed earlier and rest whenever possible; you absolutely deserve it.
Don’t smoke and don’t drinkalcohol or use recreational drugs, as they will be detrimental to your baby’s growth, development and health. Remember whatever you put into your body will reach your baby via the placental circulation.
Wearing a seat belt could save your life and that of your unborn baby, or lessen the severity of injuries in case of a motor vehicle accident. The safest type of seat belt is the three-point harness found in most cars, comprising a lap belt and a shoulder strap. The lap belt should go over the hips and under your belly and the shoulder strap up between your breasts.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that women who are pregnant during the flu season should get a flu vaccine. There is sufficient evidence showing that the vaccine is safe for mother and baby at any stage of pregnancy, as it offers protection from what could be a severe illness in pregnancy. A flu vaccine does not contain the live virus, which means it cannot infect you but does cause your body to build up antibodies that protect you when you’re exposed to the live virus.
Don’t add a kitten or cat to your ‘family’ for the first time during your pregnancy. If you do have a cat do not clean the cat’s litter tray yourself. Toxoplasmosis is an extremely dangerous parasitic infection that usually has no symptoms, but may cause blindness or mental retardation in your unborn baby. It is carried by cats, transmitted in cat faeces and found in gardens where cats defecate, so also be careful when gardening. If you’ve had cats for a while, before your pregnancy, chances are you have already developed antibodies against toxoplasmosis, but a blood test can confirm this.
Don’t get into the sauna or steam room or overheat in the bath , as increasing your core temperature significantly may be threatening to your pregnancy. It could also cause dizziness with the risk of fainting when you get up to get out of the bath or sauna/steam room.
It is recommended not to fly internationally after 34 weeks or locally after 36 weeks gestation. Due to the health risks involved it is best to avoid travelling to a malaria area, however there are malaria prophylactics that could be prescribed during pregnancy if travel is unavoidable.
Go for regular check-ups, as recommended by your healthcare provider and have the recommended scans of your unborn baby.
Familiarise yourself with conditions that are specifically associated with pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes, and with the signs and symptoms of miscarriage and premature labour, so that you can take immediate action if you experience any of these. Consult your healthcare provider if you are concerned about any aspect of your pregnancy.
Most of all, enjoy the miracle of the life growing inside you !
