Safe Pregnancy: Do’s & Don’ts

If this page has caught your eyes, here’s a big congratulations to you as either you or your loved one must be expecting a baby. If not, then you must have successfully dealt with the first blow and are desperately looking forward to a second chance in your life. Even if you have had an unexpected miscarriage in the past, don’t feel bad. Always embrace the second chance of motherhood gracefully with a happy heart.’ Fortune favors the brave’, they said. Right they were. A fearless and healthy approach can give you an ecstatic journey ahead.

For a woman, pregnancy is that phase that impacts her continued strength. It is this phase when a woman is most vulnerable to physical, mental, and emotional jolt. Dealing with a gamut of emotions, abrupt mood swings, constant stress, and a bag full of weird food cravings at odd times of the day is no mean feat, during pregnancy. However, amidst all such regular happenings, you need to maintain a healthy and disciplined lifestyle by just moving yourself a bit from the usual track. So here are a few things that have been refined out of expert medical research and analysis for you to pay attention during pregnancy. Just have a look at it and stay safe throughout your gestation period.

Do’s:

• Stay active.
• Take Vitamin D and Folic acid supplements.
• Eat healthy and proper food.
• Regularly monitor your baby’s movements.
• Sleep on your side in the third trimester.
• Take vaccines.
• Carry your pregnancy notes wherever you go.
• Be cautious and aware of unwanted symptoms.
• Take care of your mental health.
• Take proper rest.
• Get yourself regularly checked up by an expert gynecologist.

Don’ts:

• Don’t overeat.
• Don’t smoke and drink alcohol.
• Don’t take drugs.
• Don’t go diving or play stressful or contact sports.
• Don’t consume excess caffeine.
• Don’t diet or fast during pregnancy.
• Don’t lift more massive objects.
• Don’t remain awake till late at night.
• Don’t travel long distances amidst pregnancy.

A Quick Understanding Of The Do’s & Don’ts Listed Above

DO’s :

• During pregnancy, you should remain active and engage in lighter activities as well as free-hand exercises so that you do not put on those extra kilos of weight. An excess weight gain may expose you to higher risks such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, varicose veins, nausea, and lower back pain. In such situations, the delivery of the baby becomes risky.
• Taking Vitamin D and Folic acid supplements are very important during this period. Vitamin D ensures healthy bones, muscles, and teeth of the baby inside your womb by regulating the calcium & phosphate levels of the body. On the contrary, folic acid eliminates the baby’s risk of neural tube defects.
• Pregnant women are more susceptible to infections, particularly during the third trimester. So, foods having a risk of diseases or food poisoning must be avoided, such as unpasteurized milk, undercooked meat, etc. Also, a diet rich in excess Vitamin A and mercury or other pollutants can harm the baby.
• Monitor baby’s movements should regularly and report your doctor for any unusual move.
• To avoid the risk of stillbirth, you must not sleep on your back during the third trimester. Only choose to sleep on your sides.
• Take regular vaccines to boost your antibodies and, in turn, strengthen the baby’s immunity.
• Carry antenatal notes wherever you go to keep yourself prepared for emergencies.
• Symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, painful urination, sharp abdominal cramps, etc. may be a sign of the baby’s ill-health. So, always remain aware of it.
• Don’t let negative feelings or depression rule over your mind as it may affect the baby inside you.
• Proper rest and sufficient sleep are essential for your baby’s sound body and brain.
• A gynecologist should do regular checkups for keeping an account of your pregnancy status.

DON’Ts :

• Do not overeat and put on extra calories as it is undesirable during pregnancy.
• Smoking and drinking primarily affect the baby’s brain by crippling the neurotransmitters. Hence, these are dangerous habits.
• Drugs like cocaine, cannabis, meta-amphetamines, etc. increase the risks of physical and mental disorders.
• Diving and playing contact sports is a massive no-no as it can cause injury leading to a miscarriage or other risks.
• High levels of caffeine intake during pregnancy are associated with miscarriages and low birth weight babies, leading to other complications in later life.
• Dieting or fasting during pregnancy results in malnourishment, slashing down essential nutrients.
• Lifting more massive objects results in abdominal and uterine stress, leading to severe complications.
• Late-night sleep results in hormonal imbalance and affects the health and pregnancy cycle.
• Traveling long distances may be stressful, hectic, and uncomfortable, severely affecting your mind and body during pregnancy.

Conclusion

The key to a blissful family is through a baby, and the way to a healthy baby is through a healthy and balanced lifestyle. A robust approach can save all mothers and infants from getting crushed under the footsteps of vulnerability and mortality. So let’s join hands in celebrating motherhood for each mother and child is equally important to us.