Every pregnant woman knows the experience of expecting and then delivering a child is a very special one, which affects every aspect of life. Most women experience emotional shifts and mood swings during pregnancy. It’s natural to feel doubt, anxiety, and fear about pregnancy and childbirth, as well as happiness, excitement, and anticipation. Like any situation that brings major changes, pregnancy is a time of adjustment. Your body, hormones, and moods are changing.
Preconception
There are some things that can be done to give the baby the best start. The mother’s general health should be as good as possible, and any long term conditions that she has should be stabilized as much as possible before conceiving. She should be vaccinated against Rubella (German measles) as well which can cause serious problems for the baby if the mother is not immune and catches it during pregnancy.
Prior to conception and the for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, it is advisable for the mother to take folic acid supplements as this reduces the risk of spina bifida or anencephaly, especially if there is a family history of these problems. Folic acid is normally present in green vegetables, breakfast cereals, some grains and flours. As pregnant mom needs a large amount of folic acid, it is difficult to get enough from a normal diet alone, therefore supplements are very helpful. Other supplements such as iron and multivitamins can be added if the mother has specific deficiency.
Both parents should stop smoking and taking drugs, and alcohol. Alcohol can reduce fertility and greatly increase the time it takes to get pregnant. If you have stopped using contraception and are trying to get pregnant, you should consider not drinking alcohol at all. Experts advise no amount of alcohol is safe, not drinking is the safest option. Evidence has shown that alcohol causes birth defects. All alcohol that crosses the placenta will harm the baby.
Many women don’t know exactly when they become pregnant and many pregnancies are not planned. It is possible that you might have been drinking alcohol before you are tested and find out of your pregnancy.
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy may cause the increased risks of the following problems:
- Stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight
- Miscarriage
- Birth defects
- Damage to the baby’s brain such as FASD ( Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) that can cause physical and emotional developmental delay, impaired speech and language development, learning problems, difficulty controlling behaviour.
It is never too late to stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
During Pregnancy
As soon as the mother knows she is pregnant, surprised with the outcome, all the emotions of joy, fear, amazement and acceptance, may assemble within her. There was no exact word to describe the feeling.
If you are a new mother-to-be, you should now prepare yourself for the next huge things. The upcoming nine months will be more thrilling than before. You’ll experience unexpected, remarkable changes in your body.
In general, pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. Each one has its own nature and pregnancy symptoms
The First Trimester – Early Pregnancy (week 1 – week 12)
Take a look at the general symptoms you may have in the first trimester of your pregnancy – a crucial time when you should be careful with your fetus. Below pregnancy tips will hopefully help you go through this wonderful journey. Enjoy.
- Morning sickness – Nausea and vomiting are two common symptoms of early pregnancy. Although it is called morning sickness, it can happen at any time of day. Hot drinks, crackers, and fresh fruits are great choices for relieving them.
- Frequent urination – The growing of uterus causes some pressure on your bladder. You’ll be going to the restroom more often.
- Tender breasts – The increasing hormone lets your breasts become more sensitive, fuller and heavier than usual. This time you may replace your bra with a more comfortable one.
- Fatigue / Uncommon Exhaustion – Don’t push yourself by working too hard. Try to get some rests whenever you feel fatigue.
- Increased craving – Acquire nutritious and balanced food intake. Make sure you and your baby are well nourished.
- Bad moods – The change of hormones in your body causes your moods to switch as well. Mild exercises can help your moods. Moreover, just think that it’s a preliminary change and challenge you’ll have before and after your baby arrives.
- Constipation and heartburn are common.
- Keep taking folate supplements and iron (beware that too much iron can cause constipation)
Some of you may not recognize that you’re pregnant until it reaches five to six weeks from your last period. But soon when you find it out, it’s best to think which health care provider you’ll go to for a routine check-up.
Ask your pregnancy condition to your doctor. You may be asked to take some blood tests and check for blood pressure to see if any abnormalities. A very small proportion of mothers are at risk of reacting against their babies if they have different blood groups. In general the risk of blood compatibility may not be so much for the first baby, but to subsequent babies, if it is not treated appropriately during the first pregnancy.
Some of the congenital abnormalities may also be observed at the end of the third month of pregnancy by a USG examination. After 2-3 months of pregnancy you normally can see the baby from ultrasound scan. It is at this time you will normally find out if you have twins or not.
Unlike x-rays, ultrasound is not radiation and is believed not to expose the baby to any risk. Consult with doctor when unexpected things occur.
The Second Trimester (week 13 – week 26)
Your tummy continues to expand as your baby grows. During this stage you may start to feel and notice the baby moving. Morning sickness, fatigue, and all the other symptoms you had in the first trimester normally go away. However, you may start to experience below symptoms :
- Edema – water retention that causes swelling of the feet and ankles.
- Nose bleeds and nasal congestion
- Breast enlargement and discharge
- Haemorrhoids and varicose veins
- As the baby grow larger, the uterus can also push the stomach, causing heartburn.
- Indigestion and constipation may also occur
Blood and urine test is normally done to pick up diabetes or infection, which can develop at any point during pregnancy, and if diagnosed can be dangerous for the baby. The measurement of the blood pressure is important as the mother can develop high blood pressure during pregnancy. High blood pressure can either be the cause or the result of a problem with the placenta, and in either case the baby may need more careful monitoring to check it is growing properly.
The ultrasound scan is offered at about 20 weeks (half way through pregnancy). This scan is to check the baby’s growth, any physical abnormality of the baby, and the position of the placenta to make sure that it will not obstruct labour. Knowing this can prepare both the doctor and parents with the knowledge that can save the baby’s life such as if the surgery after birth is required or not.
The Third Trimester (week 27 – week 40)
During this period, the shape of the abdomen changes a few weeks before the onset of labour as the foetus drops towards the opening of the pelvis. You may experience below :
The movement of the baby can be seen from the outside. This is the most joyful experience to most moms (and dads too).
- The navel pushes out
- Some mothers experience backaches
- In order to accommodate the weight of the baby, we tend to walk differently.
- Difficulties in sleeping may be experienced especially during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Finding the correct sleeping position or use some pregnancy pillows to support will help.
Read also lots of information about pregnancy. Knowing what happens in your uterus – and your pregnancy in general – will make you feel safe and comfy.
Most of all, enjoy! It’s an amazing experience you’ll never forget in your life.
