Baby Health Blog

The first trimester of pregnancy is said to be the hardest because a woman has to become accustomed to the changes in her body and as the body adjusts to the baby inside the mother will feel nausea, fatigue, backaches, mood swings and stress.  Most of the signs go away as the pregnancy advances. These are some of the symptoms you may feel in the beginning of your pregnancy:

Tiredness:  When you’re pregnant you may feel very tired even if you’ve had a good night’s sleep.  Many women find that they’re exhausted all the time during the first trimester. This is nothing to be worried about and is merely the body’s sign of telling you to give yourself more rest. The tiredness will go away in some time and there will soon be a feeling of energy and well being.

Nausea and vomiting: This is referred to as morning sickness during pregnancy and is extremely common during the initial stages. It however isn’t limited to the morning and these symptoms usually go away after the first trimester.

Frequent trips to the bathroom: It is common to frequent the bathroom during pregnancy. This is because the growing uterus puts pressure on your bladder which causes you to urinate more frequently. Unless things get complicated there is no need to be worried.

Dizziness: It is quite common to feel lightheaded and even faint during pregnancy because there is lot of blood flowing towards the uterus and legs. This can be reduced by moving around instead of sitting in the same position.

Constipation: As you pregnancy advances you may become constipated. This happens as your uterus is expanding and can be helped by eating fruits, vegetables and drinking lots of water.  Try avoid caffeine as it makes your body lose fluid and worsens constipation.

Many pregnant women face the dilemma of whether to take medicines when they are carrying a baby. Though most medicines administered to the mother do not enter the fetus’ body, some are known to cause damage and result in birth defects. The risks are greatest during the initial stages of pregnancy when the various organs and body parts of the fetus are forming.

Most over the counter drugs are though to be safe during pregnancy although there is no way to be certain. Most drugs in the market presently however have a label telling you whether they can be safely taken during pregnancy or not.  In addition to medicines it is also advisable to stay away from things like alcohol, tobacco and caffeine during pregnancy.

Whether or not to stop medicine during pregnancy can be quite a tricky question because if a pregnant woman stops taking medicines that she should, it could harm both her and her baby. For ex if you get an infection and it goes untreated your baby and you both could end up with severe complications. So whether to take medicines in a situation like this is quite a difficult decision to make and something you might want to consult your doctor on.

Another thing you might want to stay away from are herbal medicines. Though most of them say that they are safe and sometimes even conducive to pregnancy, the truth is that you never really know. Many of these products contain certain agents that may harm the growth of the fetus and result in irreparable damage. So before you take any unknown medications, be sure to first consult your practioner.

Drugs can also be harmful or harmless depending on your medical condition and the progress of your pregnancy. Take care of yourself and make an informed decision.

When you’re expecting a baby what you eat is very important and affects the baby. When you are pregnant you should eat foods that contain vitamins and minerals and other necessary nutrition that will help your baby grow. Starting healthy eating habits before the birth of your baby will go a long way in ensuring his/her good health.  This is what your diet should be like:

Fruits and veggies: An expectant mother should have many servings of fruits and vegetables which include a daily dose of vitamins and minerals. This includes fruits like strawberries, melon, papaya, oranges which contain plenty of Vitamin C and green vegetables like spinach, broccoli etc which contain a lot of Vitamin A, iron and folate etc.

Dairy Products: Three or four servings of daily products are essential for a pregnant woman. Both the mother as well as the baby require calcium for their development. Daily products also have vitamin A &D, B vitamin which aids growth and helps build resistance to diseases.

Whole grains and cereals: You should have around ten small servings of whole grain products which will give your body and your baby’s body the iron, B vitamins, certain proteins and minerals and fiber that the body needs. It should also contain folic acid which is very important to pregnancy.

Proteins: Pregnant women need about 60 grams of protein everyday. This can be had from meat also but the meat shouldn’t be uncooked or undercooked. Eggs, nuts and beans are also a good source of protein and should be had regularly.

You also need a lot of folic acid, iron and water for your baby and you. Iron helps your baby’s bones grow stronger and helps keep your blood healthy.  Folic acid prevents birth defects and water carries the nutrients from you to the baby.

So eat healthy for a healthy baby and healthy mom.  

Prenatal care means taking care of yourself before the baby is morning. It is important to start getting care early in your pregnancy and follow up visits to the doctor. It is important for the baby’s as well as your own health that you don’t miss your appointments. Also do everything within your power to keep yourself and your baby healthy during the pregnancy.

Prenatal care is extremely important because a doctor can examine you and if he finds a problem early on it can be treated as soon as possible. Other problems can be prevented by regular care and it is essential for the health of both the mother as well as the baby.

Whether it is your first pregnancy or you have already had children it is still important to take care of yourself. It is necessary to eat a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, grains and calcium. At this point it is necessary to eat rich food and in most cases it is necessary to get in at least 30 minutes of physical activity.

When you are pregnant it is important that you absolutely stop smoking, drinking or using drugs. These things can cause harm to your baby in the long run. Though it isn’t easy you should take your doctor’s help on how to abstain from the substances.

Before taking any medications it is important to consult a doctor or practitioner. You should also stay away from x-rays and saunas and hot baths because they could harm the fetus inside. It is also important for the pregnant mother to stay away from toxic chemicals and also limit their caffeine intake.

There is also no need to stay away from work until the final stages of a pregnancy because a little bit of activity is advised and needed for the health of the mother.

Having a baby is one of the greatest joys in the world but it is also a full time job. So you have to be thoroughly prepared for the birth of your child. Plan in advance, choose a doctor, do all the things that you shouldn’t wait until after the baby’s birth to do. Consult a local pediatrician and fix up interviews. There are a hundred things that you will need to have done after the baby’s birth such as immunizations, frequent check ups to monitor health, growth, weight etc and you certainly can’t weight until the baby is born.

When your baby is on the way you must check whether everything at home is in order. This doesn’t just mean that you should have furniture and clothing for your baby, but also its general well being. Make sure the house is safe for a baby to live in. Make sure there are no sharp edges on furniture or if there are then pad the edges so that your baby doesn’t get hurt. Make sure that there are no small, harmful particles and the like and that your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in place so that you can rush your baby to safety in case of an emergency.

Check your baby shopping list to see if you have everything you need. You will need the usual things like clothes, diapers, napkins and wash cloths and other such things for regular use. Try to keep a few stocked because babies require changing several times a day. Ask relatives and friends about what brands to buy etc or you could also consult governmental agencies on the necessary items.

Even if you can’t afford all the brands and goods out there the thing to be remembered is that the most important thing for your baby is love and support.

There’s no questioning the fact that pregnancy is easily one of the most thrilling and most worrisome phases of a parent’s life. What needs to be remembered is that when you’re pregnant, what you don’t eat or consume (or expose yourself to) can be as significant as what you do. The official term for something that may cause birth defects or cause harm to a fetus is teratogen. It can and predominantly has been observed to include drugs, medications, infections, chemicals, etc.But getting stressed over every object you come in contact with can lead to a strenuous pregnancy and delivery. For a healthy pregnancy, a positive outlook on behalf of the mother is imperative. But criticizing yourself about things you did before you knew you were pregnant or before you found out they could be hazardous won’t do you or your baby any good either.

You are bound to have queries regarding what you can and can’t do during your pregnancy. But there are several untrue myths flying around and answers may not always come from the most reliable sources, so you might worry unnecessarily. Some warnings (from friends and other well-wishers) are worth listening to while others could be popular but unproven rumors. The key lies in knowing what could truly be harmful to your baby and what’s not a real concern is the key to keeping your sanity during these volatile 40 weeks.

Pregnant women should be particularly careful of a couple of things during their pregnancy, some of which are considerably more harmful than others. Your doctor (or other health care provider) will likely talk to you about — or give you information on — which should be avoided altogether, dramatically reduced, and/or carefully considered during pregnancy.

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Certain Foods
• The Litter Box
• Medications
• Recreational Drugs
• Smoking
• Artificial Sweeteners
• Computer Monitors
• Flying
• Hair Dyes
• High-Impact Exercise
• Household Chemicals
• Bug Sprays
• Lead
• Microwaves
• Overheating
• Tanning
• Sex
• Drinking Water
• Teeth Whitening
• Vaccinations
• X-Rays