Healthy moms tend to have healthy babies. If you plan to, or become pregnant,
take the following steps to help your pregnancy be a healthy one and to see that your baby
gets off to a good start.
Consider genetic tests or
counseling if you or your husband have a family history of genetic disorders, if you are
35 or
older, or if your husband is 60 or older.
Have a complete medical exam, including a
gynecological exam. A number of medical problems can cause harm to you and your baby.
These include:
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Sexually transmitted disease (STDs)
HIV/AIDS
RH disease (after the first pregnancy, if not treated with Rhogam)
German measles (Rubella)
Obesity
Take measures to control and/or treat all
medical conditions and take care of your health before you get pregnant and when you are
pregnant. If you have a chronic medical condition, ask your doctor how it may affect your
pregnancy.
See your health care provider as soon as
you know you are pregnant. Get regular prenatal care.
Consult your doctor before taking any
medication.
Ask your doctor about prenatal vitamins
while trying to get pregnant. These have folic acid, a B-vitamin that may prevent certain
birth defects, such as spina bifida. Continue to take vitamin-mineral supplements as
prescribed by your doctor throughout your pregnancy.
Ask your doctor or a dietitian for a meal
plan that meets the special needs of pregnancy.
Don't drink alcohol, take
"street" drugs, or smoke.
Limit your intake of caffeine. Try to do
without it completely.
Follow your doctor's advice about weight
gain. The amount of weight you gain should depend on your pre-pregnancy weight and health
status, as well as your ethnic background. If you're very overweight, plan to lose excess
pounds before you get pregnant.
Exercise in moderation 3 times a week with
your doctor's okay. Some activities thought safe during pregnancy are walking, golf,
swimming, and low-impact aerobics.
Practice relaxation and other stress
control techniques.
Enroll in childbirth preparation classes.
If you own a cat, arrange for someone else
to empty the litter box. Cat feces can transmit a disease called toxoplasmosis. If you're
infected while pregnant, your baby may be stillborn, born prematurely, or suffer serious
damage to the brain, eyes, or other parts of the body. It is safe, however, to handle or
pet the cat.
Be informed. Know the warning signs of
pregnancy complications. These include increasing blood pressure and early labor.Getting
treatment early is important.
Preventing Preterm Labor
A pregnant woman who starts to have her baby too soon is in preterm labor.
A full-term pregnancy is about 40 weeks. Babies born before 37 weeks are considered
preterm and may have health problems because they were born early.
The cause of preterm labor is not completely understood. Any pregnant woman can have
preterm labor. The following conditions are associated with an increased risk of
having a preterm baby:
Previous preterm birth
Three or more miscarriages in a row
Bleeding problems
Pregnant with more than one baby
Abnormally shaped uterus
Daughter of a mother who took DES (a
medication used from the 1940s to 1970s by pregnant women to prevent miscarriage)
Infections of the urinary tract, vagina,
cervix, etc.
Not enough weight gain, poor diet, lack of
prenatal care
Smoking, drinking alcohol, misusing drugs
Severe emotional stress
Mother is younger than 18 or older than 35
This is not an all-inclusive list. If you have questions about these conditions, discuss them with your doctor.
Being at an increased risk does not mean a woman will have a preterm baby. Whether you are at risk or not, learn the warning signs and how to feel your uterus (womb) to tell if you are in labor. It is possible to prevent a baby from being born too early, in some cases, if early warning signs are recognized and steps are taken to stop labor.
The following are warning signs of preterm labor:
Contractions come every 15 minutes
or closer and last from 20 seconds to 2 minutes each.
Contractions come closer together as time
goes on.
Menstrual-like cramps come and go or don't
go away.
Pressure in your pelvis, back, or insides
of your thighs. It feels like the baby is pushing down.
Dull backache below your waist comes and
goes or doesn't go away.
Change in vaginal discharge
Fluid leaking from the vagina
A strange feeling that something is not
right
Fever of 100.4o F or higher
and/or chills
Remember that preterm labor is usually not painful. If you have any of the
signs of premature labor, do the following:
Lie down, tilted toward your left
side for 1 hour. Do not lie flat on your back.
Drink 2-3 glasses of water or juice during
this hour.
Keep feeling your stomach for uterine
contractions. Time your contractions.
If the signs do not go away in 1 hour, or if you have fluid leaking from your
vagina, do not wait. Call your health care provider! When you call, tell your nurse or
doctor:
Your name
When your baby is due
What signs you are having
How often you are having contractions
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 1999 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 02/01/99