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Preparing for a Healthy
Pregnancy
Planning to have a baby? There are
steps you can take before you ever become pregnant to help
ensure a smooth pregnancy and a healthy outcome for you and
your infant.
Sally L. Avenson, a nurse midwife who teaches in the
University of Washington School of Nursing and maintains a
private midwifery practice, offers a number of suggestions
for women who are expecting babies -- or hoping to.
Practice good nutritional
habits
"It's wonderful to go into pregnancy healthy,"
says Ms. Avenson. Good eating habits are important to help
minimize the likelihood of problems. "And the peace of
mind is wonderful, knowing you're doing everything you
can to give your baby a good start."
Ms. Avenson says it's probably a good idea to take a
vitamin supplement, with special emphasis on the B vitamins.
Lack of one of the B vitamins, folic acid, in the mother has
been linked with spine bifida (open spine) in the newborn.
Talk to your doctor to see if a supplement is appropriate for
you.
Practice healthy living
habits
Plan on regular exercise, get enough rest and sleep, and try
to keep stresses to a minimum. "It's an opportune
time to make changes," says Ms. Avenson. "If
you're motivated, you can do wonderful things."
Strive to exercise hard enough to raise your pulse rate, but
not to the point that you can no longer converse.
Don't smoke
Smoking retards the growth -- including the brain -- of the
fetus, and can affect the child's learning potential.
"The connection has been made over and over," says
Ms. Avenson. Mothers who smoke also have an increased rate of
obstetrical complications, including pre-term labor, and
premature separation of the placenta, which provides
nourishment to the unborn baby. There is a higher rate of
miscarriage among smokers, says Ms. Avenson. The rate of
miscarriage is related to the number of cigarettes smoked on
a daily basis. "So it's worthwhile even to cut down
on smoking, although it's much better to quit," she
says.
Abstain from alcohol
"The best strategy is abstinence," stresses Ms.
Avenson. Heavy drinking may cause fetal alcohol syndrome
(FAS). FAS causes facial deformities and severe behavioral
and learning difficulties. Moderate drinking may result in a
milder condition called fetal alcohol effect (FAE). FAE is
difficult to diagnose because there are no abnormalities in
the child's appearance. FAE may cause behavior problems.
Like cigarettes, alcohol's challenges to the fetus are
dose-related. Binge drinking causes more problems than
moderate drinking.
Refrain from drug and other
substance abuse
Seek help if you have a drug problem, and remember that the
child you're carrying has an even stronger response to
drugs than you do.
Seek help in abusive
situations
Statistics show that domestic violence often begins or
increases when a woman is pregnant, because she is more
vulnerable and dependent and makes an easier target.
"There's such secrecy and stigma attached to the
victims," Ms. Avenson says. "Call the domestic
abuse hotline and get a referral to someone who can
help."
See your health care provider as
soon as you suspect you're pregnant
"It's wonderful to have early visits," says Ms.
Avenson. "Be assertive about health care planning, and
educate yourself to make good choices. If the health care
provider you go to doesn't suit your needs, don't be
afraid to make a change. Be proactive when it comes to your
pregnancy."
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