Maya is 22; a newly wed girl. She may have attained the age to be a mother according to the Indian law, but she does not know the basics of pregnancy and its phases. She is excited about the new life developing inside her and wonders how she can be pregnant without getting an abdominal bump. Oh it’s just too early. The baby must be 2 inches now. She does not know what to eat, how to care for the unborn, and not to forget, how to take care of herself. All she needs is definitive guidance through her stages of pregnancy. Mom’s advice, granny’s diet, and friends’ suggestions are just too much to digest. It’s time to act and get smart, and celebrate motherhood. It’s your right!

Check up

Take all the possible tests suggested by your doctor: blood count, urine, blood sugar, hepatitis, HIV, blood group, and VDRL. If there is any issue, get it sorted out as quickly as possible. This is the earliest phase of your motherhood, known as the latent phase.

Weight Talk

Don’t even think of losing weight during pregnancy. Weight gain determines the growth of your child inside you. The normal weight gain during pregnancy ranges from 8 kg to 14 kg. It might be less if you are short. If you are over or underweight, you must speak to the doctor as this might affect the unborn. Weight management has to be done before pregnancy. Check your weight every 8-10 days as the phases pass by. You enter the active phase of pregnancy when you start gaining weight.

Exercise, Keep Fit

Don’t be surprised to see pregnant mothers working out in the gym. It’s healthy for you and your baby. It improves blood circulation and helps keep the baby healthy. Don’t do weights. Do moderate exercises. Stick to aerobics, yoga, or just walking. Continue this throughout your pregnancy. Keep drinking water during the workout. Don’t do squats, it’s dangerous, and exercise slowly and enjoy it.

Diet

You are eating for two. Eat 8-9 meals a day. Include lots of carbohydrate in the form of bread or rice, proteins, and minerals, for example, milk, curd, paneer, cheese, eggs, meat, fish, pulses, green leafy vegetables, and fruits. If you are a vegetarian, include a good amount of flax seeds and soya nuggets in your diet.

Things to be Avoided

Please refrain from smoking and alcohol, and the X-ray machine. X-rays can harm the baby. An ultrasound machine is safe though.

Red Alert

Visit the doctor immediately if you experience severe pain or vaginal bleeding. This can happen during any phase. At times it’s quite normal if the pain is bearable. This is the transit phase or the third phase of pregnancy in which the baby will be born. Keep the doctor’s number handy and also of your relatives or neighbors.

Stick to the guidelines, and just relax and have a good time. Pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks. This is the best time of your life to show how caring you are, and how much you love yourself and your baby. Happy motherhood! You are blessed.

Pregnancy health

Having a baby is one of the most exciting events in a woman’s life. Pregnancy health is the foremost priority for the expecting mothers. It seems that a miracle is in progress inside one’s body when you are pregnant. Ideally, a lot of planning is required to have a healthy baby.

Taking care of one’s health during pregnancy is not only important for the mother but also for the baby. As soon as a woman observes early pregnancy symptoms, it’s important to start taking better care of her health. Knowing about all the possible prenatal risks can help the mother know what to avoid during her pregnancy.

What expecting mother should eat

For an expecting mother, the key to protect the health of the child is to get regular prenatal care. During the nine months that a woman is pregnant, the fetus is continuously growing. The expecting mother should eat right, take a lot of vitamins, get enough rest, and see the doctor when required. The utmost target for good pregnancy health should to avoid anything that can potentially harm the baby. This is especially important during the vital growth period.

The initial three months of pregnancy are very important for the physical and mental growth of the baby. The principal organs and the nervous system of the baby form during this period. Gaining the right amount of weight is essential for a mother. Therefore, a well balanced diet should be consumed. Nutritious diet comprising proteins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins are essential during pregnancy. Though, a mother-to-be might have food cravings, foods like caffeine should be avoided.

Water plays an important role in diet during pregnancy. It carries the nutrients to the baby. It also helps prevent constipation and bladder infection. More importantly, drinking ample amount of water prevents dehydration. Regular exercise also makes labor easier. However, safety tips should be kept in mind while exercising.

In addition to physical health, a pregnant woman should also take care of her mental health. Developing depression during pregnancy is very common. Stress and tension are better avoided.

No-No during pregnancy

Few things which are a strict no-no during pregnancy are drugs and alcohol. These are substances which many women know they should avoid during pregnancy. A pregnant lady should seek continuous medical guidance from experts and good doctors to ensure pregnancy health.