Prospective on Healthy Prenatal Environment
When it is confirmed that you are
pregnant and an estimated due date
is selected, you need to begin
thinking about some important
issues. Safety, nutrition, exercise,
rest, physical and mental health are
all vital to both the mother and the
developing infant in reducing risk
in any pregnancy.
A. Good Medical Care: Even a low risk
pregnancy is put at high risk if prenatal
care is absent or poor. Seeing a
qualified doctor or nurse practitioner
regularly, beginning as soon as
pregnancy is suspected, is vi9tal for all
expectant mothers.
B. Good Diet: A diet geared to your
personal needs should be carefully
planned with your physician. One that
is high in fiber and which includes
plenty of folic acid is important for the
developing fetus. Don’t fast or skip
meals. Eating regularly is essential. A
good diet may also help to prevent
gestational diabetes, hypertension and
other diseases.
C. Fitness: Beginning pregnancy with a
positive attitude and a good exercise
routine will be less stressful and more
body healthy. With regular exercise,
you can reduce constipation and
improve respiration, circulation, muscle
tone and skin elasticity. All of these
contribute to a more comfortable
pregnancy and an easier, safer delivery.
D. Sensible Weight Gain: A gradual,
steady and moderate weight gain may
help prevent a variety of complications.
These include diabetes, hypertension,
varicose veins, hemorrhoids, low birth
weight or difficult delivery.
E. Smoking: Stop as soon as possible.
This reduces the many risks to both the
mother and the baby, including
prematurity and low birth weight.
F.
Alcohol Drinking very rarely or not at
all will reduce the risk of birth defects,
particularly of fetal alcohol syndrome,
G. Drugs: So little is known about the
specific effects of drugs on fetal
development that it is best to avoid
taking any during pregnancy that are
not absolutely essential and prescribed
by your doctor.
H. Prevention and Treatment of Infections:
All infection should be prevented
whenever possible. When contracted
however, infection should be treated
promptly by a physician who knows
that you are pregnant.
I. Be Aware of the Superwoman
Syndrome: Being highly motivated in
everything you do is not wrong.
Getting enough rest during pregnancy is
far more important than getting
everything done, especially in a high
risk pregnancy. Some studies have
suggested a higher incidence of
premature delivery among women who
work up until term, particularly if their
job entails physical labor or long
periods of standing.
J. Water: Water ranks second only to
oxygen on the list of things essential to
live. It is true that water once posed a
serious threat to the lives it sustained by
carrying deadly typhoid and other
diseases. Modern practices of water
purification have eliminated such
threats. In other words, you have more
to worry about if you don’t drink the
water than if you do.
During pregnancy you will be
challenged to make intelligent decisions
in dozens of situations while weighing
risks and benefits. Each decision that
parents make will impact the chance of
you having a healthy baby. Just try to
make decisions that will add to the total
health of both mother and unborn child
and the odds are very much in your
baby’s favor.