Prenatal care is very important to a woman who is pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Prenatal care is more than just taking a prenatal vitamin and going to doctor appointments. For some women it can be a complete lifestyle change.
The Basics of Prenatal Care
Every woman, whether pregnant or not, should be getting 400 micrograms of folic acid every day. This can be found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, but usually that's not enough, which is why prenatal vitamins or iron supplements should be added into a diet. Having enough folic acid in the body can help lower the risk of brain and spinal defects to the fetus.
Also a woman should immediately stop use of tobacco, drugs and alcohol. Reducing caffeine intake is also important.
Any prescription medications, over-the-counter medications and any medical conditions should be discussed with a doctor. Some medications are not safe during pregnancy but stopping use of a medication for a condition can also be unsafe to the woman.
Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy
Every woman knows a healthy diet is important during pregnancy. However, it involves more than cutting out alcohol and cutting back on caffeine.
Women should eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, calcium-rich foods and foods low in fat. Drinking lots of water is also recommended.
Preterm birth and low birth weight are linked to anemia, which is a condition that occurs when the woman isn't getting enough iron. That's why taking a daily prenatal vitamin is essential to baby's development.
A woman needs iron during her pregnancy, but she should avoid is mercury. Mercury can be found in many fish including sword fish, king mackeral, shark and tilefish.
Listeria can be found in fruits and vegetables and is another cause of illness (listeriosis) of which to be cautious. This can be found in unpasteurized milk and foods from this milk, such as feta and brie soft cheese. Other ready-to-eat foods such as hot dogs and deli meats may also have a chance of contamination. A woman should make sure to wash her fruits and vegetables before eating them and not to eat raw or undercooked meats. A general rule of thumb is that there should be no pink in meat.
Changing Environment to Have a Healthy Pregnancy
There may be some habit changes to make within the woman's house. She should stay away from chemicals such as insecticides, paint and solvents. If she thinks her cleaning products may be harmful, she should check with the product company or her doctor if there is no warning on the label.
If a woman has a cat, she should avoid cleaning and changing the litter box. Cat feces may carry an infection called toxoplasmosis which can cause birth defects. Rodents, even pet rodents, can also carry a virus harmful to a fetus so rodents, their droppings and nesting material should also be avoided.
A pregnant woman should also take steps to avoid illness. She should wash her hands frequently, stay away from ill people and if she is pregnant during flu season, she should receive a seasonal flu vaccination.
A Lifestyle for a Healthy Pregnancy
Preparing to take care of a tiny human being who is completely dependent on his/her parents means the parents must be educated about pregnancy and life after pregnancy to ensure the baby lives a healthy life.
On average, a woman should gain 20 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. If she is under- or overweight, her doctor may change this range.
Exercise is still important. A woman shouldn't drastically change her exercise routine unless the doctor tells her to change it. Whatever she was doing for exercise before pregnancy, she will probably be allowed to keep doing it unless there is a reason for her to stop.
Other lifestyle changes include:
- avoiding hot baths, saunas or hot tubs
- getting plenty of rest
- controlling stress
- taking a childbirth education class
- avoiding X-rays
A woman should take a prenatal vitamin before she gets pregnant or start once she finds out she's pregnant. If she's doing anything harmful to her body such as drugs, alcohol or tobacco she should quit immediately.
Prenatal care is essential to delivering a healthy infant so a woman should also be healthy. She should schedule a doctor's appointment once she finds out she's pregnant and keep an open dialogue with her doctor to address any concerns or questions she may have.
Source:
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Tamara Frank - My name is Tamara Frank and have been writing for Suite101 for two years. I have self-published a book titled "Lessons I Learned From ...
