Bumpin’ Along: Essential Care Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnancy period is very vital for everybody. Special care during this period is mandatory for Wellbeing of the mother as well as the fetus.

Do/Don't during pregnancy period:-

a) Use of medicine is pregnancy:

Never consume any over-the -counter medicines because most medicines cross the placental barrier and reaches the fetus. Some medicines can cause normal development of the fetus.

Inform your physician about your pregnancy status when you consult for any other reason.

b) Vaccination in pregnancy:

Tetanus toxoid in pregnancy protects both the mother and baby against tetanus. Live vaccines should not be taken pregnancy.

c) Rest and Sleep:

A pregnant lady should take rest for 10 hours a day (8 hrs. at night and 2 hours at noon) especially in last 6 wks. Side-lying position(especially in left) is more comfortable during pregnancy.

d) Maintain Hygiene:

Regular bathing, dental hygiene is necessary in pregnancy.
Loose and comfortable garments should be used.
High heels should be better avoided during pregnancy for maintain good balance and posture.
Good environmental hygiene is also necessary.
Avoid slippery floors at home/bathrooms to protect from fall and injuries.

e) Travelling during pregnancy:

Travel by vehicles having jerks is to be avoided special in first three months and last three months. Travel by train is better than travel by bus.

Travel in pressurized aircraft is also less risky, but air travel should be forbidden in placenta-praevia, pre-eclampsia, severe anaemia and sickle cell disease.

f) Avoid Smoking and Alcohol:

Smoking and consumption of alcohol in pregnancy is associated with miscarriage, low birth weight babies and premature birth. There can also be birth defects and developmental disabilities, which is collectively called as foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

g) Ante-natal check-up:

Attend your ante-natal clinic as scheduled and as and when necessary.

h) Report to your physician if you have the following :

Intense headache;
Disturbed sleep with restlessness;
Urinary troubles, epi-gastric pain;
Vomiting and scanty urination;

i) Rush to hospital for admission if you have the following:

Painful uterine contractions at an interval of about 10 minutes or earlier and continued for at least an hour,
Sudden gush of watery fluid per vagina,
Active vaginal bleeding.

For successful delivery and breastfeeding:

Fresh fruits and vegetables are good source of fiber in diet, which helps to relieve the constipation.
Warm milk at bedtime also helps to regulate the bowel movement.
Take plenty of fluids.
Try to avoid caffeines
To maintain maternal health,
To meet the extra need for the growing fetus,
To adjust to changes in preference of the mother,

Diet: The diet is to modified

Protein: Normal protein requirement in women is 50 gm i.e. 1gm/kg of body weight and in pregnancy it is 60 gm/day. Rich source of protein is meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, nuts, pulses, soyabean, eggs etc.

Iron: Iron plays vital role in formation of hemoglobin. Iron deficiency leads to anemia. Iron rich foods to be taken in pregnancy are- meat, fish, green leafy vegetables, dates, pomegranates etc. Supplementary iron therapy is needed in all pregnant women from 16 weeks of pregnancy. Iron is better absorbed when taken with vitamin-c. Never take iron with tea or coffee.

Table: Dietary modification for women in pregnancy (per day)