Much has been said in the past that pregnancy is not an illness and that women can live a normal life while pregnant, but this new phase does indeed require pregnancy care.
Main Recommendations
Initially, up to 12 weeks, doctors recommend a certain amount of care and observation for pregnant women—not overdoing it and maintaining certain precautions at the start of pregnancy due to the risk of loss, of course depending on the woman’s health condition. If, from the start, the woman has experienced bleeding and needed bed rest, pregnancy care should be redoubled and certainly under medical supervision.
Once the risky period has passed, some basic pregnancy care can make all the difference for a peaceful and almost comfortable pregnancy, despite common discomforts at this stage, by avoiding certain things and adopting other habits appropriate for pregnancy.
Choosing Your Doctor
First of all, choosing the doctor who will follow the pregnancy is essential. Currently, women with health insurance plans have encountered issues selecting their doctor because some gynecologists/obstetricians in private practice will provide prenatal care but do not perform the delivery through the health plan, only for an additional private fee.
Therefore, one aspect of pregnancy care involves deciding whether to pay privately for the delivery or have the baby delivered by the on-call doctor at the maternity ward. Of course, the peace of mind in having a trusted professional overseeing your pregnancy makes all the difference for the pregnant woman.
Explanatory Video
It is also important to check the waiting period for your health insurance plan, to know what steps you need to take so you don’t have to worry later as the delivery date approaches.
If you are giving birth through the public health system (SUS), then be diligent about prenatal care with the clinic doctor and also find out where your delivery will most likely occur. Visiting the maternity hospital will give you a good idea of what the care will be like at the time of birth; most private or public maternities have set visiting days and times for expectant mothers.
Once you have chosen your doctor and hospital, it’s time to have tests done to ensure all is well, and then start taking the vitamins prescribed by your doctor. Ideally, you should start taking folic acid when you are trying to get pregnant; if this wasn’t possible, then begin as soon as you discover the pregnancy.
Folic acid is a strong ally against fetal malformations, and the other vitamins ensure adequate nutrition for both mother and baby.
Everyday Pregnancy Care
Some other pregnancy care tips should be observed in daily life. These are details that can make a real difference both for the safety of the mother, to avoid accidents, and for the well-being of the baby on the way.
A good example is high heels. Some women love high heels, but during pregnancy they may become uncomfortable or even risky. That’s because the pregnant woman’s balance shifts as her belly grows, her spine’s center of gravity moves forward to support the weight of the baby and the pregnancy, and wearing very high heels can lead to falls.
This is why doctors recommend saving high heels for after pregnancy. Using sunscreen to prevent skin spots is essential!
Foods to Be Avoided
The consumption of some foods should also be avoided during pregnancy. Foods such as:
- Raw fish Seafood (shrimp, squid, octopus, etc.)
- Undercooked meats and unpasteurized dairy products
- Processed cold cuts (sausage, salami, bologna, etc.)
- Canned foods not boiled before use
This is because some bacteria may reside in these foods. In the case of seafood, food poisoning caused by them can be very serious for pregnant women, in addition to the risk of allergic reactions.
Some types of undercooked meats may transmit toxoplasmosis to pregnant women. As already mentioned, this disease, if acquired during pregnancy, can cause malformations in the baby.
Canned foods run the risk of carrying the botulism bacterium, which can put the pregnancy at serious risk if contracted. To consume canned vegetables such as hearts of palm or pickled onions, it is advised to boil the jars in water for approximately five minutes before opening them to add to recipes.
Beverages
Avoiding too much caffeine at the beginning of pregnancy is also a good tip. Some studies suggest caffeine can lead to miscarriage, though it’s not necessary to cut coffee out entirely unless your consumption is extremely high.
Artificial sweeteners are also discouraged during pregnancy unless the mother needs to restrict sugar intake; in that case, the doctor may restrict some sweeteners like aspartame, while others like fructose, which are natural, may be allowed.
Another crucial point in pregnancy care is giving up habits that could be harmful to the baby, such as smoking and alcohol. Medication use should only be as directed by your obstetrician.
Exercise during pregnancy is essential, and if the woman enjoys it and was already active before, the doctor will likely approve without problems. But wait to start strength training at the gym until after the postnatal recovery period.
Hair coloring also deserves special attention. Choose dyes wisely and avoid those containing ammonia. During pregnancy, activities like walking and water aerobics are excellent for both mother and baby.
Putting these pregnancy care tips into practice can go a long way to avoiding headaches during pregnancy and at delivery. Do you have any suggestions for pregnancy care? Leave them in the comments. Make your obstetrician your best friend.
See you next time.
See also: Changes in the Body During Pregnancy – What to Expect
Photo: Personal Collection
