A healthy pregnancy is one that is uneventful, not long than usual or boring. This is what every potential mother and father should aspire to have. Maintaining a healthy pregnancy requires one to take certain precautionary measures before conception and maintain these habits during the length of their pregnancy. Some of the advice given to persons looking to get pregnant is for them to adopt a healthy lifestyle, attend prenatal clinics, constant consultation with mother and child specialists (CDC, 2006).
To start with, a scheduled visit to the OB/GYN as a couple is important for them to take you through what to expect during this period. Some families may have a harder time trying to conceive than others and therefore such appointments are necessary. There are many ways to increase the chances of conception and for those who do not want the additional doctor’s visit; they just have sex around the time that the woman is ovulating. This is easy to know with the help of ovulation predictions kits easily purchased in stores or online. Another way is to take note of the menstrual cycle. Usually, during the day before ovulation, the basal temperature drops and will be a bit higher during ovulation as compared to other temperature readings. Charting one’s cycle is a task in itself but it is a process that helps one understand their body that much better (CDC, 2006).
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Having a baby is not a cheap affair and it is important to ensure that one is financially able to care for the child. While it does not call for one to be extremely wealthy, it is always better to expand one’s family when one has a source of income and savings that help to cushion against any unprecedented occurrences. For some families, it may mean letting go of certain luxuries, but just because one is not well off does not mean that they shouldn’t have a child, it has to be done but just like any situation, it is better to be prepared. There are several programs set up by governments and other non-governmental organizations that aid mothers and children who are not well to do to access food and supplies they need before and after their babies are born (CDC, 2006).
Doctors and midwives give a list of things to avoid or cut out when one is trying to conceive. These include illegal drugs, alcohol, caffeine, and other edibles that could prove harmful to the mother and the baby during pregnancy. These are referred to as teratogens, which agents that come in form foods chemicals and drugs that cause birth defects to the unborn babies (CDC, 2011). Any medication taken during pregnancy poses the risk of a birth defect and since it is not known the extent to which certain medication will affect the unborn child, it is recommended that there be as little drug use as possible. Where this is not avoidable, the expectant mothers are taken through the safest medication since there are no risk free alternatives that exist.
Any drug that gets into the mother’s blood stream also gets into the baby’s as well.The use of illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, MDMA’s and so forth will negatively affect the growth and development of the baby and they will place the mother at risk of having a miscarriage, premature delivery, placental abruption and so forth (CDC, 2011). It is vital to keep off such drugs and environments where there is drug use to ensure that the mother is safe and they are able to have a normal pregnancy. Alcohol intake has the same lethal effects and the baby will be exposed to higher levels of alcohol from your blood stream. The developing babies are exposed to fetal alcohol syndrome (CDC, 2011) and children born with this condition have high chances of suffering from metal growth retardation, aggressive behavior, and heart defects.
According to Kail (2014), o ne cannot stress enough on the importance of having a healthy lifestyle. An expecting mother needs to eat a balanced diet and take vitamins as prescribed by a qualified doctor or a nutritionist. This includes eating a balanced diet with enough fiber, vegetables, fruits and drinking plenty of water. The kind of food the mother consumes has an impact on the health of the baby throughout their development even after they have given birth. Some are advised to keep off spicy foods especially those that suffer from morning sickness, or heart burn. It is important to maintain a healthy regiment and for those who are finding it difficult, seeking advice from your doctor or midwife during the pre-natal visits is advised.
A healthy lifestyle also involves taking care of one’s emotional needs. Pregnant women experience an emotional turmoil at one time or another. It is encouraged that they get someone to talk to whether a friend, their husband or whoever they feel close to and share the emotions they feel. The emotional well-being of the expecting mother is important as it affects the pregnancy and so the environment they are exposed to should be serene and friendly ( Kail, 2014).
Lastly, getting early and regular prenatal care improves the chances of having a healthy pregnancy. During these visits, the healthcare provider gives physical examinations, and as the pregnancy progresses they are able to give advice related to the health of the mother, the infant and answer any questions related to child birth and post-natal care ( Kail, 2014). These visits will minimize the chances of complications going undetected and women are informed on the steps they should take to protect their infants. Intake of prenatal vitamins will increase the amount of folic acid needed by the mother and child. The same is found in foods like green leafy vegetables, bread, and other grain based foods (CDC, 2006).
In conclusion, a healthy pregnancy will require that both the expecting mother and father follow a safe routine as advised by the healthcare providers. A healthy diet, avoiding harmful substances that can lead to complications during pregnancy should be a priority. A healthy pregnancy will result in the birth of a healthy child and they are less likely to suffer from any complications during their development.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). A report of the CDC/ATSDR Preconception Care Work Group and the Select Panel on Preconception Care. Retrieved July 30, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5506a1.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Strategic Plan 2011–2015 . Retrieved August 1, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/NCBDDD/AboutUs/documents/NCBDDD_StrategicPlan_2-10-11
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Retrieved August 1, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/Features/FASD[top
Kail, R. V. (2014). Children and their development . Pearson.
