A fetus requires nine months of incubation before it is brought into this world. This time is extremely critical, as it determines how healthy the baby will be when it is born.
When a woman becomes pregnant, her body immediately begins changing. It prepares to stimulate growth and development for the fetus. This is the body’s natural form of prenatal care. Even subtle, not-so-pleasant changes symbolize this adaptation, such as breast tenderness, nausea, heartburn, extreme tiredness and frequent urination.
For example, the nausea that wakes you up every morning may be due to constipation and/or the metabolic changes that are taking place in your body. Those aren’t the only changes that are going on in your body; changes produced in the digestive tract due to hormones slowing down the movement of food are what cause constipation and hemorrhoids, both common during pregnancy. In addition, during the last trimester of pregnancy there is more pressure on your rectum from your uterus. Avoid these by drinking plenty of liquids and eating fruits and vegetables with a high fiber content. Try drinking a glass of tepid water before breakfast as well.
Your body is constantly working overtime when you are pregnant. Probably the easiest way to take care of yourself during this time is to sleep. Fatigue is a common characteristic of pregnancy, so try to get eight hours of sleep a night and a nap during the day if you can. While you are up, take it easy and do not exert yourself.
Prenatal care consists of not only what a woman’s body is doing inside, but also includes actively monitoring your baby’s development from the outside as well. It is extremely important to visit your doctor regularly. Your doctor will monitor the baby’s growth by monitoring your weight gain or loss, blood pressure, circumference of the abdomen and the position of the fetus and its heartbeat. Ultrasound testing is another beneficial prenatal tool that doctors use that allows them to actually see the baby throughout the course of the pregnancy.
Although a doctor can definitely help to ensure the birth of a healthy baby, there are also many things that you need to do to ensure the same. For example, be conscious of what you eat; the baby needs all the vitamins and nutrients it can get, so try to eat a well balanced diet prescribed to you by a doctor. Try to stay mildly active, and try relaxation and breathing exercises regularly.
One form of prenatal care that has gained tremendous popularity is prenatal stimulation exercises. Research shows that babies inspired by singing and talking while still in the womb tend to demonstrate exceptional visual, linguistic and motor skills. You can practice prenatal stimulation exercises as early as the first trimester and throughout the entire pregnancy. Examples of these exercises include talking to the baby, playing music, and teaching the baby associations between words and actions. For example, when your baby kicks or makes a sudden movement, gently tap your abdomen where the baby’s head is and say, "tap, tap, tap."
If you are giving up your baby for adoption, depending on which state you live in, you can receive financial assistance for all forms of prenatal care, such as medical assistance and living expenses. In many cases, the adopting parents will take full take care of all expenses and fees incurred by the pregnancy. The adoptive parents’ medical insurer will also pay for the baby’s medical fees as well. This, of course, all depends on your state of residency and the specifics of your situation.
Having early and consistent prenatal care is essential for having a healthy pregnancy. It starts by educating yourself on all the proper steps that you need to take while pregnant.
By Kelley Caner