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.

Healthy, nutritious food and a well balanced diet shall be incorporated into daily routine and shall not be limited to certain special times like pregnancy. But, you have to be a bit more conscious in the intake of right food which is nutritious and, at the same time, tasty to eat. The doctors, too, prescribe certain essential nutrient supplements to be taken along with the daily food depending on the regular test results. What is even more important is to know which foods shall be avoided during this phase? This article informs the expecting mothers and the caring family members on the foods that are not considered safe or healthy for the baby but are consumed quite lavishly by the adults.

1. Raw or improperly cooked food of animal origin: There are good chances that the improperly cooked food that you might be eating contains microscopic bacteria, parasites or viruses. The risky foods are unpasteurized eggs, raw oysters, clams and raw bakery products like dough and cookies.

2. Hot dogs, meats and unpasteurized dairy products: Hot dogs, salami, turkey, refrigerated meat spreads, smoked seafood and dairy products which are not pasteurized may contain dangerous bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause pregnancy miscarriage, still birth and many other health problems. Experts suggest that the meats shall be reheated till they are steaming hot before consuming. It is also important that hands are properly washed during the handling of meats.

3. Seafood and fish: Those sea animals which are likely to have high mercury concentration in their bodies shall be avoided. These include swordfish, shark, mackerel and a few others. The high mercury concentration interferes with the development of brain and nervous system of the baby. It is also advised not to eat fish caught from the polluted water systems like lakes and rivers close to the industries.

4. Raw sprouts: Sprouts shall be cooked well before eating. These may contain bacteria in seeds which are not removed on normal washing.

5. Alcohol: Beer, Wine or spirits are a strict no during pregnancy. These are known to restrict the fetus development and can cause pregnancy complications.

6. Caffeine: whether it is your cup of coffee, tea, soft drink or any other beverage that contains caffeine, it is best avoided since it can result in miscarriage and low birth-weight.

It is also suggested that the expecting mothers receive a detailed chart of foods to consume and avoid. Oral briefings can also help considerably.