Health During Pregnancy
Every parent is different, just as every baby is different. So there can't be many rules to having a baby but hopefully the following information will help.
During pregnancy women are offered a range of tests which are designed to check whether the baby is developing normally and if the pregnancy is going well. A booklet is available from Maternity with more details.
All tests are optional but some of the one you can have are:
- Routine blood, Screening, Diagnostics, Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Ultrasound
During your Antenatal clinics the following will be checked:
- blood pressure, baby’s heartbeat, assessing your baby’s growth, baby’s movement, checking for any swelling.
You should contact the midwife as soon as possible if:
- Your labour starts before you are due
- You have vaginal bleeding
- You have severe headaches or vomiting
- Your fingers or feet become very swollen
Studies suggest that exercising during the childbearing year is not harmful to either you or your baby, provided the pregnancy is normal and you are healthy. 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise a day on most, if not all, days a week is recommended for pregnant women. If you are unsure you should always consult your doctor first.
X-rays should be avoided in pregnancy if possible, make sure your dentist knows your pregnant. Some women are concerned about reports of the effect of VDU's (Visual Display Units on compurt terminals) in pregnancy. The most recent research shows no evidence of risk.
If you work with chemicals, lead or X-rays, or in a job with a lot of lifting, you may be risking your health and the health of your baby.
Heavy or frequent drinking can seriously harm your baby's development. To be on the safe side, stop altogether or stick to no more than one or two 'units' of alcohol once or twice a week and avoid getting drunk.
Smoking in pregnancy increases the risk of cot death, miscarriage, stillbirth and premature babies. It is best not to smoke at all.
Coffee contains caffeine which can act as a stimulant to your urinary tract and is therefore best avoided. You should not have more than 300mg of caffeine a day, the equivalent of 3 mugs of coffee, 6 mugs of tea, 8 cans of coke, 8 bars of chocolate. However you should drink approximately 3-4 pints of liquid a day.
Foods to avoid are pates of all sorts, liver or liver products, peanuts, shark, marlin or swordfish. Don't have more than 2 portions of oily fish a week. You should also only drink pasteurised or UHT milk.
Health is very important during pregnancy for you and the baby. Take a 400 microgram tablet of folic acid every day until you are 12 weeks pregant and try to eat a balanced diet including fresh fruit and vegetables. Vitamin supplements can be used but you should always consult your doctor first as some vitamins such as Vitamin A can be harmful to your baby. When it comes to pills and medication you should assume all are dangerous to your baby until a doctor or pharmacist tells you they are safe.
Most women gain between 22-28lbs during pregnancy. Weight gain varies a great deal and depends on your weight before pregnancy. If you gain too much weight this can affect your health and increase your blood pressure.
