HEALTHY PREGNANCY - DO'S AND DON'TS

PREGNANCY CARE 

TO ALL THE PARENTS-TO-BE ( NOT JUST MOMMIES! ), I DON'T SAY PREGNANCY IS EASY BUT IS DEFINITELY WORTH IT IN THE END ( WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE REAL BEGINNING ;) )

AS THEY SAY "MAA BANN NE KA EHSAAS HOTA HAI KUCH KHAAS ( BEING PREGNANT IS AN ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT FEELING )- IT IS ACTUALLY LIKE THE HEAVEN AND THE HELL AT THE SAME TIME FOR THE BABY-BEARER !!!!

APART FROM THE HOME REMEDIES SHOWERED ON THE MOTHER BY THE FAMILY AND THE NEIGHBOURS, HERE ARE SOME TIPS FROM MEDICAL POINT OF VIEW AS TO WHAT TO EXPECT DURING PREGNANCY AND WHEN TO SEEK HELP WHEN NORMALCY DISTORTS. 

THE MOTHER'S HEALTH IS ALSO ABOUT THE 4 SPHERES ( AS ELABORATED IN ONE OF MY PREVIOUS BLOGS ) : PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL AS WELL.

AS THE CONCEPTION HAPPENS, HORMONAL HARMONY DISRUPTS AND SYMPTOMS START TO APPEAR- INCLUDES MISSED MENSES, NAUSEA, VOMITING ( CALLED MORNING SICKNESS ), ACID REFLUX,  BREAST TENDERNESS, LETHARGY, PEEING OFTEN, SENSITIVITY TO SMELL, MOOD SWINGS, CRAVINGS, SKIN CHANGES, BACK PAIN,  CLUMSINESS, SWOLLEN FEET,  ETC ETC ETC........ THESE ARE TO ENLIST SOME COMMON ONES ONLY; ELSE EVERY PREGNANCY IS UNIQUE IN ITS SYMPTOMS .

• FIRSTLY, IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT YOU SHOULD REGISTER YOUR PREGNANCY WITH INSTITUTIONS HAVING MODERN DELIVERY SERVICES; AND REGULAR, TIMELY CHECK UPS ARE MANDATORY AS WELL FOR A FRUITFUL EXPERIENCE OF THIS DISGUISED BLESSING !!

1. PHYSICAL WELL BEING INCLUDES DIET, EXERCISE AND SLEEP.

• DIET-- WILL INCLUDE REGULAR MEALS WITH AN EXTRA SERVING OF A GLASS OF MILK/ 2 SLICES OF BREAD FOR THE BABY. CARRYING BABY DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN YOU HAVE TO EAT DOUBLE THE AMOUNT. IT WILL DEPEND ON YOUR PRENATAL WEIGHT AS WELL WHETHER YOU ARE LEAN / OBESE. REMEMBER- BABY IS A REASON TO EAT, NOT AN EXCUSE !!!
• FOR MORNING SICKNESS- POP A BISCUIT OR 2 AS YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING BEFORE YOU HAVE WATER. THIS WILL HELP THE ACID REFLUX ISSUE IN MOST WOMEN.
• LIMIT CAFFEINE, ALCOHOL AND SMOKING AS THESE WOULD REDUCE BLOOD FLOW TO THE DEVELOPING BABY.
• STAY HYDRATED AND WATCH OUT YOUR SALT INTAKE. 
• AVOID RAW, UNDERCOOKED, UNPASTEURISED, PROCESSED AND PACKAGED FOOD AS THEIR HARMFUL TOXINS AND SUBSTANCES FIND THEIR WAY TO THE UNBORN.
• YOU CAN HAVE ALMOST ANY, HOMEMADE FOOD AS IT PLEASES YOU. JUST BE CAUTIOUS TO HAVE IT AT RIGHT TIME AND IN RIGHT AMOUNT. 
•  TRACK YOUR WEIGHT GAIN DURING PREGNANCY(IN 9 MONTHS)- SHOULD BE ABOUT 11-14 KGS IN A NORMAL WOMAN AND ABOUT 5-7 KGS IN OBESE PREGNANT MOTHERS.

• FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION IS IMPORTANT BOTH PRENATALLY AND DURING FIRST HALF OF PREGNANCY FOR PROPER DEVELOPMENT OF THE BABY. FOLATE RICH FOODS INCLUDE CEREALS, ASPARAGUS, LENTILS, BROCCOLI, BROWN RICE, ORANGES ETC 
• IRON IS ALSO SUPPLEMENTED ESPECIALLY IF THE MOTHER IS ANAEMIC AND THE DIET ISN'T PERFECT. IRON RICH FOODS LIKE GREEN LEAFY VEGGIES AND JAGGERY TOP THE LIST.
• 2 TETANUS TOXOID INJECTIONS ARE RECOMMENDED IN INDIA IN THE 4TH AND 5TH MONTH OF PREGNANCY .

• DON'T TAKE ANY MEDICINE / OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS FOR ANY PROBLEM DURING PREGNANCY. THEY CAN PLAY HAVOC WITH THE OUTCOME OF YOUR PREGNANCY. ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU ARE ABNORMALLY UNCOMFORTABLE DURING THOSE 9 MONTHS AS WELL AS AFTER THAT WHEN YOU ARE BREAST-FEEDING YOUR NEWBORN !

• EXERCISE-PREGNANCY IS NOT ABOUT PROCRASTINATING UNLESS BED REST IS INDICATED TO YOU BY YOUR DOCTOR!  MOMMIES, WALK IN THE LAP OF NATURE FOR 20-30 MINUTES IN THE MORNING AND IN THE EVENING- IT WILL BOOST YOUR CIRCULATION AND MOOD AS WELL. 
• ALWAYS WEAR FLAT FOOTWEARS OR SPORT-SHOES ONLY. HEELS ARE TO BE AVOIDED FOR EVERY EXCUSE AND REASON.
• MEDITATION AND YOGA ALSO HELPS IN HEALTHIER PREGNANCY BUT ALWAYS SEEK EXPERT ADVICE AS TO WHICH POSTURE AND POSITION OF YOGA IS GOOD FOR YOU IN PREGNANCY.
• KEGELS EXERCISE DURING PREGNANCY WILL ENSURE A RELATIVELY EASIER AND LESS PAINFUL DELIVERY LATER ON.

• SLEEP- 8 HOURS AT NIGHT AND 2 HOURS DURING DAY IS RECOMMENDED FOR MOMS-TO-BE WHICH LETS THE BODY TO ASSIMILATE NUTRITION FROM MOTHER TO BABY! 

• FOR MENTAL HEALTH - MOTHERS SHOULD SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE, POSITIVE THOUGHTS, HAPPY AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. IT IS ALL GOING TO HAVE EFFECT ON YOUR BABY'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT. WATCH TV / LISTEN TO MUSIC / ENJOY NATURE / WATCH MOTIVATIONAL VIDEOS TO KEEP YOUR SPIRITS HIGH. AVOID HORROR AND THRILLERS AS YOUR HEART BEAT SHOOTS SO DOES YOUR BABY'S AND IT'S NOT HEALTHY FOR THE BABY-BUILDING !!! DON'T BE OVER-ADVENTUROUS ;):)

• REMAIN EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY INTACT DURING THIS PERIOD AS THIS IS THE TRANSFORMATION OF YOUR LIFE FROM WOMANHOOD TO MOTHERHOOD - ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU.
• YOU CAN MAINTAIN A PREGNANCY BOOK OR DIARY TO KEEP YOURSELF ENGAGED AND MAKE THIS PHASE MORE FASCINATING BY MAKING NOTE OF SPECIAL EXPERIENCES THAT HAPPEN AS THE TIME PASSES.
• TALK TO YOUR LOVED ONES. DISCUSS ABOUT PREGNANCY WITH YOUR DOCTOR SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT'S NORMAL AND WHAT'S NOT.  THE ALTERATIONS IN YOUR BODY SHOULD NOT POP UP SURPRISING YOU EVERY NOW AND THEN ;);)

TAKE HOME MESSAGE- PREGNANCY IS A JOURNEY TO PARENTHOOD AND A BLESSING TO LET LIFE GROW INSIDE YOU. THE BABY WILL BE HEALTHY IF THE MOTHER IS FIT AND HEALTHY. SO, MOTHERS, WATCH OUT YOUR OWN HEALTH FIRST BEFORE AND DURING PREGNANCY. AND FATHERS, TAKE CARE OF BOTH ;);)

HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY PREGNANCY ....!!!!