Pregnancy which finally leads to parenthood is perhaps the most important responsibility that one undertakes in life. Yet many young couples accept pregnancy as routine, without much preparation. Even a four year old is now tutored on how to give the school admission interview! However a young couple accepts pregnancy without any thought or expertise on the task they have undertaken. Pregnancy in the current time means more interaction with the unborn, understanding early developments and using the medical and counseling facilities available. In addition, most of us are going in for planned and limited number of children and hence each pregnancy becomes a "precious" one.

Think Pregnancy While Planning Marriage

Pregnancy is a unique experience. Girls should have pregnancy at the back of their mind while choosing their life partner. Few points should be taken into careful consideration. Marriages between close relatives are not advisable. There is a risk of congenital anomalies. A gene of a type of anemia called thalassemia if carried by both parents may expose the child to the full blown disease. With genetic counseling before pregnancy such a situation can be avoided. Your doctor can investigate through specialized blood tests, ultrasound, amniocentesis, chorionic villous biopsy or foetal blood sampling during pregnancy.

How To Hear The Pregnancy Bell

If your periods are usually regular and if you have not menstruated till two or three weeks after the expected date, you are probably pregnant. Other symptoms of pregnancy are an increase in the frequency in passing urine, especially in the early stages. Tenderness and a feeling of fullness in the breasts by the end of the first month (this is due to the increased flow of blood to the breasts in preparation for nursing) also takes place. You may also feel nausea in the early months. Consult your doctor to confirm pregnancy.

Medical Care During Pregnancy
Special Blood Tests During Pregnancy

• Blood Group- ABO & Rh
• Hb A2 - to detect thalassemia carriers
• HBs Ag - to check for hepatitis B carriers
• HIV for AIDS
• 'VDRL' for syphilis

Nutrition and health care during pregnancy cannot be over emphasized. It is essential to see your doctor early and regularly during the nine months of pregnancy. Examination and care of breasts and nipples should form an essential part of routine care. If you are seeing a doctor regularly and your pregnancy is progressing smoothly, you can enjoy your 9 months. However you should avoid visiting sick people and visiting congested areas during first three months of pregnancy.

Drugs During Pregnancy

Always consult a doctor and take his advice before taking any drug. Smoking and alcoholism during pregnancy retards the unborn baby's growth. Make sure that you remind your physician about your pregnancy, each time you consult him for an illness.

Pregnancy cannot be blindly accepted as God's divine gift as it requires lot of maturity, involvement and planning. It is thus important to understand all the aspects right from the conception to its completion. One must remember that the journey of nine months is equally important as the final result. So to have happy pregnancy, have an open and positive mind and do a bit of planning.