1) Planning a Healthy Pregnancy

2) Morning sickness

3) What is Preconception Care?

4) Prenatal Care and Planning

5) Good Nutrition during Pregnancy

Planning a Healthy Pregnancy

This article is for information only. Consult your physician or health care provider to discuss specific concerns with any pregnancy issue.

     Experts agree that the first step in planning a healthy pregnancy begins before conception. Important genetic developments in the embryo occur before a women realizes that she is pregnant - therefore maintaining a healthy lifestyle before pregnancy occurs can reduce the risk of complications later on in the pregnancy. Women who are attempting to conceive should begin taking a multi-vitamin that contains folic acid. Studies show that by avoiding folic acid deficiency, a women can reduce the chance of having a baby with a neural tube defect like spina bifida. Cigarette smoking should be discontinued, or at the very least efforts should be made to cut back on the number of cigarettes smoked. Alcohol consumption should be avoided whenever possible. Achieving your ideal body weight before pregnancy is recommended, since reducing diets are not medically advised during pregnancy. Women who are obese going into a pregnancy, may be at greater risk of developing complications such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
 

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Morning sickness

According to the American Medical Association, nearly fifty percent of women suffer nausea and vomiting during the first three months of pregnancy. It tends to be more severe early in the morning, but it can occur anytime during the day or night. Morning sickness usually occurs in the first trimester and ends around the third month of pregnancy. It is believed to be caused by the presence of certain hormones and by changes in the way the body metabolizes carbohydrates. Most women experience only intermittent nausea and vomiting.

     To alleviate nausea, eat several small meals during the day because an empty stomach can bring on nausea. Avoid fatty foods; they can make morning sickness worse, and eat foods high in carbohydrates and protein. Drink plenty of fluids in-between meals to replace the fluids you're losing by vomiting and to help neutralize stomach acids. It may also be helpful to keep a box of whole-grain crackers by your bed. Eating them about twenty minutes before you get up may help prevent nausea. And if you can, it helps to get up and move about slowly in the morning because rushing seems to make nausea worse.

     For more information on morning sickness consult a healthcare professional.
 

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What is Preconception Care?

Preconception care is an important part of a woman's overall reproductive health. It is the comprehensive care that women need in order to be as healthy as possible before getting pregnant. To plan for a healthy pregnancy, preconception care includes:

• A visit with a health care provider to identify and correct any health problems
• Updating immunizations
• Good nutrition for both mother and father
• A vitamin supplement for pregnancy (including .4 mg of folic acid per day)
• Regular physical activity
• Avoidance of unhealthy substances (such as alcohol use, cigarette smoking, drug use)
• Avoidance of x-rays
• Genetic testing and counseling for at-risk individuals or couples

Good preconception care is the first step in good prenatal care.

Early Signs of Pregnancy

The signs of pregnancy can vary from person to person. You may have none, some, or all of the following signs of pregnancy:

• A missed period, spotting, or a period with less bleeding than normal
• Nausea or vomiting
• Tender, swollen, or tingling breasts
• Fatigue
• Changes in appetite or digestion
• Frequent urination and urgency

     Although some of these signs may be due to factors other than pregnancy, you should take care of yourself and your body if you think you are pregnant. In addition, you should make an appointment to see a health care provider.

Pregnancy Tests

     Early diagnosis of pregnancy is based on hormone changes in the body. In particular, there are urine tests and blood tests:

• Home pregnancy tests measure the amount of the hormone hCG in urine. They are usually able to detect pregnancy about 12-15 days after conception. The results are ready in a few minutes. Home pregnancy tests are almost as accurate as lab tests.
• Urine pregnancy tests conducted in your health care provider's office are very similar to home pregnancy tests.
• Pregnancy tests based on blood samples are more sensitive than urine tests. They can detect pregnancy as early as one week after conception, and they can also detect the exact amount of the hormone hCG in the blood.
• Ultrasounds are sometimes used to confirm pregnancy and to estimate the length of pregnancy.
   

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Prenatal Care and Planning

Prenatal care is the comprehensive care that women receive and provide for themselves throughout their pregnancy. Women who begin prenatal care early in their pregnancies have better pregnancy outcomes than women who receive little or no care during their pregnancies. Prenatal care includes:

• Periodic, regular visits to a health care provider
• Good nutrition
• Regular physical activity
• Awareness and monitoring of warning signs
• Avoidance of the use of unhealthy substances

What are some things to plan for before the baby arrives?

     In addition to good prenatal care, during pregnancy it is also important to investigate and make plans for a variety of important postpartum decisions, such as:

• Breastfeeding
• Postpartum family planning
• Finding a pediatrician

What are the unhealthy substances to avoid during pregnancy?

     During pregnancy, it is important to avoid certain substances that could harm the developing fetus. Women should consult with their health care provider before taking any prescription or non-prescription medications. The following substances should be avoided:

• Alcohol
• Other Drug Use
• Cigarette smoking and other tobacco use
• X-rays
• Lead
• Common over-the-counter medications
• Other medications (such as those for seizures, cancer, acne)

Prenatal visits with a health care provider

     Studies have shown that women who begin regular prenatal care during the first trimester of pregnancy have better birth outcomes. Although good prenatal care depends on self-care, it is also important to have periodic and regular visits with a health care provider (usually a midwife or physician). Such visits can help women to monitor their pregnancies and seek advice along the way. Health care providers can also help to detect and manage any warning signs that might occur during pregnancy.

     Health care providers can be important partners with women and their families before, during, and after pregnancy. In many countries, there are various alternatives for maternity care. Depending on where you live, you may be able to choose your health care provider and birthplace. Different types of providers have unique characteristics, and you should feel comfortable with the philosophy and background of the provider that you choose. Midwives are trained to provide care for women with low-risk pregnancies, whereas physicians (usually obstetricians) care for patients with both low and high-risk pregnancies.
 

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Good Nutrition during Pregnancy

Pregnant women should eat a balanced, nutritional diet and increase their calorie intake to meet the needs of the developing fetus and their changing bodies. Eating a range of wholesome and nutritious foods during pregnancy is one of the most important things that women can do to ensure the normal development and growth of the developing fetus, and it can help to prevent prematurity and low birth weight. For the mother, good nutrition helps to prevent anemia, infection, difficult labor, and poor healing.

     Good nutrition during pregnancy depends on eating a variety of wholesome foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruit. It is important for pregnant women to drink plenty of fluids and have an adequate intake of:

• Protein: for proper development of the fetus and placenta
• Calcium: for healthy development of the fetus
• Iron: for the developing blood supply of the fetus and to prevent anemia in the mother
• Folic acid: to reduce the risk of spina bifida, anencephaly, and related birth defects

     It is recommended that women who wish to become pregnant take a prenatal vitamin containing folic acid and other essential vitamins and minerals. Pregnant women should also eat foods rich in protein, calcium, iron, and folic acid.

Good sources of protein include:

• Eggs
• Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt)
• Tofu
• Beans
• Lean meats

Good sources of calcium include:

• Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt)
• Broccoli
• Fish

Good sources of iron include:

• Lean meats
• Legumes (lentils, chickpeas)
• Green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale)
• Dried fruits (apricots, raisins)
• Eggs
• Prune juice
• Molasses

Good sources of folic acid include:

• Green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale)
• Eggs

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