In this article of My Health Only, we are going to tell you about pregnancy care tips, knowing pregnancy care tips will help you handle it as soon as possible.
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
Table of Contents
Pregnancy is a period of about forty weeks during which the fetus develops in the woman’s womb. The egg formed in the ovary is fertilized by the male’s sperm, only after that a woman conceives. The process of mixing of eggs and sperm is called fertilization. Once the implantation (after the egg is fertilized, is affixed to the uterine wall for nutrition), pregnancy or pregnancy begins.
Since it is very difficult to find out on which day the egg is fertilized, the last day of the last menstrual period is considered the beginning of pregnancy. Gynecologists add forty weeks or 280 days to this day and give a possible date of birth.
Once pregnancy is confirmed, the right pre-natal (before birth) care should be taken to ensure that there are no complications or threats such as miscarriage, placental abruption, etc. Every pregnant woman has to have regular check ups during pregnancy. These check ups are done to know how the fetus is growing in the womb and whether it needs special care or not. A pregnant woman has to take a lot of vaccinations, in addition, she is also asked to take vitamins and mineral supplements during this time.
A woman should follow a balanced pregnancy diet and exercise routine during pregnancy for good health of the mother and baby and good development of the baby. If there is no complication in pregnancy, a normal vaginal delivery of the woman can be done. If the fetus is not held properly or is pre-mature or has any other complication, a caesarean or c-section delivery will be done.
Let us know more about pregnancy
First trimester of pregnancy –
The period from one to twelve weeks of pregnancy is called the first trimester. However, most women do not know that they are pregnant by the fifth to seventh week. Accurate calculation of pregnancy starts from the last day of the period. During this time, there is a high probability of miscarriage, so more attention is needed at this time.
The woman’s body is getting ready for the entire pregnancy in the first trimester. The uterus grows large to keep the fetus inside, the umbilical cord begins to develop to deliver nutrition to the uterus. In addition, the amount of hormones and blood is doubled and weight gain is increased.
The infant develops very rapidly in the first trimester. During this period, the baby’s spinal cord, brain and other organs are formed, and by the end of it, you can also hear the baby’s heartbeat in ultrasound.
Second trimester of pregnancy –
The period from 13 to 27 weeks of pregnancy is called the first trimester. During this trimester, the pregnant woman feels as if the baby is moving in her womb. Which means that the baby is growing properly in the womb. Prenatal care should continue in this trimester, especially if you are about to give birth to multiple pregnancy or twin babies.
Ultrasound is done to monitor your baby’s development at 18 to 20 weeks. It is essential that if there is any complication of any kind during pregnancy or if the infant has any congenital disorder, it should be known at the beginning of the second trimester. This is because by this, the mother will be able to advance the pregnancy by thinking properly and the doctors will also help in treating the complications.
It is also important to remember that even though the baby is believed to be utero (can live outside the womb) after 23 weeks, the longer the baby is in the womb, the more likely it is to live and reduces the risk of having health problems.
Third trimester of pregnancy –
The period from 28 to 40 weeks of pregnancy is called the first trimester. By this week your weight has increased more and now you are feeling more tired than before. It is important that you take sufficient rest during this period so that the baby is safe in the womb.
The baby’s bones are fragile, but by this time they have been fully formed. By this time the baby can feel the light and can even open and close its eyes. If everything goes well, you and your baby will be ready for vaginal delivery by the end of this quarter.
It is important to note that a baby born at 37 weeks is called a pre-mature. Such infants are at risk of having a weakened immune system and delayed development. Babies born at 39 and 40 weeks are called “full term” babies and are much healthier.
Complications of pregnancy –
There are many women who go through this phase of pregnancy without any problems. However, there are many other women whose pregnancy becomes difficult due to problems in their own or child’s health. However, the possibility of such problems can be reduced if proper precaution (such as not smoking or drinking alcohol and taking a balanced diet) before getting pregnant. Women who were healthy before becoming pregnant may also have problems with pregnancy.
Such pregnancies are called high-risk pregnancy. In such a situation, more pre natal care, medical treatment and even surgery can be done to keep both mother and baby well. Pregnant women may have the following problems during pregnancy.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition that can severely affect the health of the infant, High blood pressure may decrease blood flow to the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord carries nutrition and oxygen to the baby in the womb. Low blood flow to the umbilical cord can slow the baby’s development. In addition, it can lead to premature delivery or pre-eclampsia status in the mother.
Women who had high blood pressure before becoming pregnant should undergo repeated checkups during pregnancy. If the woman has high blood pressure after getting pregnant, this condition is called gestational high blood pressure. Gestational high blood pressure occurs during the second or third trimester and resolves on its own after delivery.
Gestational diabetes
If a woman has a sugar problem or diabetes after becoming pregnant, this condition is called gestational diabetes. The pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin that breaks down glucose and transmits it to cells as energy. Due to hormonal changes happening in pregnancy, it may happen that there is not enough insulin in the body or it cannot be used properly in the body. This can increase the blood glucose deposition. Increased blood sugar level in the blood can lead to a condition of gestational diabetes.
If you have gestational diabetes, it is important that you get the treatment prescribed by your doctor. Getting these treatments done is important because if not done, conditions like pre-mature birth can occur.
Infection
If the mother has any type of infection such as bacterial infection, viral infection, fungal infection or STD during pregnancy, it can affect the health of both mother and baby. These can all go into the fetus and harm health. Many of these infections can be treated during or before pregnancy.
It is necessary to check for infections in your body and adopt the right precautions towards them as it can cause miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, premature delivery, congenital disorder problems. You should talk to your doctor about these infections and if you are at risk of it, then treatment and vaccination should be taken.
Abortion
Abortion means that the fetus dies on its own in the twentieth week of pregnancy. This can happen for a variety of reasons such as infection, immune system response and uterine abnormality. If you drink or smoke, there is an increased risk of miscarriage. Reducing exercise, staying under stress and excessive caffeine intake can also lead to miscarriage.
Symptoms of miscarriage include vaginal bleeding, stomach cramps, vaginal discharge, etc. Abortion cannot be cured once initiated. Abortion or miscarriage can be very painful for any woman. Apart from this, if you have had miscarriage before or if you have habits like smoking and alcohol in your lifestyle, then the risk of miscarriage is also increased due to these. But this does not mean that you cannot conceive again. At this time it is better that you support the family and friends emotionally and keep yourself mentally strong.
Ectopic pregnancy
Usually fertilization occurs in the embryo womb, but if this fertilization occurs in the fallopian tubes, this condition is called ectopic pregnancy or tubal pregnancy. In such a situation it is necessary to recognize the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy. These symptoms may include abdominal pain, pelvic pain, bleeding, nausea, and a desire to pass stools.
Premature delivery
If the pain of pregnancy starts in the 37th week then it is called pre-mature labor. Babies who are born in pre-mature labor may usually have health problems and may also have slow development after birth. This condition occurs when the brain and lungs develop in the last weeks of pregnancy.
Premature labor can usually be caused by a mother’s lifestyle malfunction, poor prenatal nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption, uterine inequality, and infections. Low levels of progesterone hormone can also cause pre-mature labor, so women who are at risk are treated with progesterone hormones to prevent delivery until delivery is safe.
Infant born dead (still birth)
Still birth means the termination of pregnancy in 20 weeks of pregnancy or the death of the infant. The term is also used for infants who die during childbirth. Many still births occur due to many unknown reasons and are called unexplained still births. Smoking, alcohol, older age for pregnancy and medical conditions such as diabetes and obesity increase the risk of stillbirth. This can cause a lot of shock to the parents mentally and emotionally, so parents should take counseling during this time.
Check up during pregnancy –
A complete health check-up of both mother and father is very important in the first trimester of pregnancy. During pregnancy, the infant not only takes nourishment from the mother but also carries genes from both the mother and father. Since it is important in the long-term development of the infant, routine tests and screening are very important.
These tests and screenings include Total Blood Count, Urine Analysis, Hepatitis, Tests for STIs and HIV / AIDS. Tests such as the Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein Test (PAPPA) and the Human Gonadotropin Test are used to check for any chromosomal abnormality. Ultrasound and nuchal translucency scans are performed to check the fetal development and to confirm that the infant has no abnormalities.
Vaccination during pregnancy –
The mother’s immune system plays an important role in pregnancy because the health of the baby depends on it. The mother’s immune system protects the baby during pregnancy, and even after birth, the infant is also protected by breastfeeding until the baby starts getting the external vaccination.
Therefore it is important that the mother takes all necessary vaccinations on time. Get all the check ups and screenings done by the doctor and take the necessary vaccine based on their results. It is important to note that the vaccine is given to all pregnant women for flu, tetanus, diphtheria and cough.
Diet and supplements during pregnancy –
A balanced diet is necessary to maintain the right amount of nutrition during pregnancy, in order to keep oneself well and to provide correct nutrition to the developing baby. Therefore, it is imperative to create a balanced pregnancy diet that includes adequate amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and minerals.
When it comes to nutrition in pregnancy, water is not given much importance but lack of water can lead to serious complications so drinking enough water is very important. Your body needs lots of vitamins and minerals during pregnancy, including iron and folate, which all pregnant women should take.
Labor and child birth –
The contraction of the uterine muscles indicates that your body is ready for labor and delivery of the baby. After the fourth month of pregnancy you may feel a contraction that will not be frequent or frequent and will not cause much pain. These are called Braxton-Hicks contractions or false labor.
If you are having contractions before 37 weeks and it is happening frequently and is also causing more pain, then it can be a sign of pre-mature labor. If you are seeing these signs, see a doctor quickly or go to the nearest hospital immediately.
Labor contractions are of two types – early labor contractions (which last only five minutes) and active labor contracts (which are frequent and cause intense pain). During this time, the cervix starts to open and when this happens, you may see blood discharge from the vagina.
Once the cervix opens properly, it means that your body is ready for delivery. If this does not happen or there is a problem of any kind then you can have a C-section or Caesarean delivery.
It is necessary to control the pain during delivery because very intense pain occurs during labor. Many women are given epidurals such as anesthesia and analgesics to control pain, but many women use meditation, yoga and music therapy during this time.
