Women's Healths

You can increase the chances that your baby will be healthy. The following guidelines will help.

Your health, both before conception and during the first weeks after, is particularly important for your baby's health. Start helping your baby even before you become pregnant.

• Get a thorough physical checkup. If any problems or needs are found, deal with them early. Have a blood test to check your rubella immunity. If you test negative, you will need an immunization. It is recommended that you wait at least 3 months after being vaccinated before you get pregnant. Exposure to rubella during early pregnancy can harm your baby.

• During this checkup, you may want to ask for a "pre-pregnancy exam," which can help determine any risks to you or your children from pregnancy. Knowing the possible risks may help you decide whether you wish to see a family practitioner, a midwife, or an obstetrician for care during your pregnancy. It may also help you decide what tests you want to have done during pregnancy.

• You and your partner may want to be screened for potential genetic problems, such as sickle cell anemia if you are of African- American descent, or Tay-Sachs disease if you are of Jewish- European or French-Canadian descent.

• If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, seizure disorders, or any inherited diseases, talk with your doctor before getting pregnant. Your doctor may want to modify your treatment and may be able to prescribe medicine that is safer for the developing baby.

• See your dentist and, if possible, have any necessary fillings or other work done before you get pregnant.

  Morning Sickness Many women experience nausea and vomiting during the first few months of pregnancy. Morning sickness, which can occur at any time of day, is a normal result of the body's adjustment to pregnancy. The following Home Treatment can help. Eat 5 or 6 small meals a day to avoid having an empty stomach. Include some protein in each of the meals. Eat crackers or dry toast as soon as you get up in the morning. Increase your intake of vitamin B 6 by eating more whole grains and cereals, wheat germ, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Talk with your health professional before taking vitamin supplements during early pregnancy. They may cause nausea. Avoid foods (or food smells) that make you nauseous. Get plenty of rest. Call your health professional if your symptoms are so severe that you cannot hold down food or liquids, if you are vomiting more than 3 times a day, or if you are losing weight. He or she may prescribe a medication to help control your nausea and vomiting.

• If you have symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease or are unsure of your partner's sexual history, read See Sexually Transmitted Diseases See HIV Infection and AIDS and arrange for an examination and testing.

• Eat well. Make sure your diet includes plenty of green, leafy vegetables and legumes, and take a multivitamin supplement that contains 0.4 mg of folate (folic acid). Folic acid helps prevent certain birth defects such as spina bifida. Other good sources of folic acid include fortified cereal and whole-wheat bread.

• Exercise and control your weight as advised by your doctor.

• Stop smoking and cut down on caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, tea, and cola drinks.

• Stop drinking alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, and hard liquor.

• Stop all illegal drug use and eliminate any medications that are not absolutely essential.

• If you are anxious or depressed, get help. See Anxiety See Depression.

• Buy a good book on pregnancy and start reading.

• Continue to avoid smoking, alcohol, and drugs.

• Make the first visit to your caregiver in the first 10 to 12 weeks of your pregnancy.

• Get tested for HIV infection.

• Continue to improve your nutrition.

• Continue taking a multivitamin supplement containing 0.4 mg of folate.

• Avoid touching cat feces and litter boxes. Also, wash your hands after handling raw meat and cook all meat well before you eat it. Cat feces and raw or undercooked meat can carry toxoplasmosis, an infection that can cause a miscarriage or brain damage in the fetus.

• Avoid all chemical vapors, paint fumes, and poisons.

• If you drink coffee or soda with caffeine, cut back to 2 cups per day.

• Continue with the guidelines described above.

• Reduce your risk for injury and falls:

  • Wear sensible shoes.

  • Continue moderate levels of your regular exercises, but do not become exhausted or significantly short of breath.

  • Avoid sports with a high risk for falls or impact, such as skiing or horseback riding.

• Increase your calcium intake by drinking more milk ( 1 L or 1 qt of skim or low-fat milk per day) or through other sources of calcium. See Calcium.

  Home Pregnancy Tests If you become pregnant, it is important that you know right away. The quickest way to find out is with a home pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests are inexpensive and very reliable when done correctly. Some tests can show positive results within a few days of the first missed period. Use a test that has simple instructions and follow them exactly. Mistakes can lead to false results. If the result is positive, schedule an appointment with your doctor to confirm the result.Even if the pregnancy test result is negative, it is a good idea to see your doctor to confirm the results. Treat yourself as if you are pregnant until you know for sure.

• Follow all of the guidelines listed above.

• Get plenty of rest.

• Take childbirth classes with your partner or designated coach.

• Educate yourself about early signs of labor.

• Have your other children take a class to help them adjust to the new baby.

• Practise relaxation exercises (See Relaxation Skills). They will be helpful during labor.

• Develop a written birth plan with your health professional that outlines your wishes and expectations throughout the labor and delivery.

• Maintain a good sense of humour.

Most babies are delivered vaginally, just as nature intended. However, when the health of the baby or mother is at risk, doctors can deliver the baby through an incision in the mother's abdomen. This is called a Caesarean delivery or a C-section.

There are 3 main concerns with Caesarean deliveries:

• More risk. Many mothers who have C-sections develop infections or bleeding that requires additional medications or treatment. Although more women die as the result of having a C-section than do women who have vaginal deliveries, the death rate for both types of delivery is very low.

• Longer recovery. You can usually go home within 1 day after a vaginal delivery. The hospital stay after a Caesarean delivery may be 2 to 3 days. After a C-section, you must limit your activity over the next 4 to 6 weeks to allow the incision to heal.

• Less involvement. The mother and other family members can be more involved with a vaginal delivery. Caesarean delivery is a surgery, which limits family involvement.

C-sections are a good idea when either the baby or the mother is in danger. A Caesarean delivery should not be done just because it is easier to schedule. If you previously had a C-section delivery, you can probably have a vaginal delivery with your next pregnancy. Ask your caregiver what you can do to help avoid the need for a Caesarean delivery.

Breast milk is the ideal food for your new baby. Consider taking a breast-feeding class before your baby is born. See Breast-Feeding.

A nursing mother needs to consume 500 more calories per day than she did before becoming pregnant. Although you don't need to drink milk to make milk, extra calcium and protein are important, and your doctor may prescribe a vitamin supplement. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, and limit caffeine to 1 or 2 beverages per day. Do not take any medication while breast-feeding unless it is prescribed by a health professional

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