The Importance of Prenatal Care In Ensuring a Healthy Pregnancy

The nine months of pregnancy can be incredibly wonderful and highly stressful all at the same time. Luckily, getting proper prenatal care can help increase the likelihood of a successful labor and delivery and reduce the stress that comes alongside it.

Prenatal care includes many things, such as staying on top of routine medical appointments, getting assistance with day-to-day tasks, and fostering a healthy lifestyle. By focusing on getting proper nutrition, avoiding bad habits that can harm the fetus, and making your health a priority, you can help mitigate the risk of complications during gestation.

Here are some key points to take into account when expecting so that you can look forward to a successful, healthy pregnancy. 

Eat a Balanced Diet

It’s no secret that it’s essential for everyone, especially mothers, to eat a nutritious diet. If you’re expecting, then you should strive to maintain a nutritious diet that benefits you and the baby. Consuming folic acid supplements, iron, and vitamin C is a must, but you should also attempt to break any bad dietary habits that may harm the fetus.

As a pregnant woman, your nutritional requirements are higher and an increased appetite may encourage you to seek foods that don’t have good nutritional value. It’s important to remember that a balanced and healthy diet not only nourishes yourself, but your growing baby as well.

Things You Should Consider

You should also keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of fluids. Seltzer, unsweetened juice, and herbal tea are all healthy options to consider if you’re worried about not getting enough fluids. Keep your water intake within the recommended range of 8-10 glasses per day, and bear in mind that additional trips to the restroom are both normal and to be expected.

Physical changes also occur throughout pregnancy, so it’s reasonable to expect to gain some weight during this time. Furthermore, try to avoid reaching for the same foods over and over again. If you want to make sure that you get all the nutrients you need to divide your daily food intake into five servings and make sure to eat a rainbow of fruits and veggies every day.

Things To Avoid

Finding balance is more than just eating a healthy diet. You also need to put an end to any bad habits that are within your control, such as drinking alcohol and smoking. These have been linked to severe birth problems in babies, such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), cognitive impairment, and – in rare instances – things like sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Other things like eating at an irregular schedule, drinking too much coffee, or eating junk food can adversely affect a baby’s cognitive development. Pregnant women should be cautious about the kind of seafood they consume. Avoid consuming fish that rank high in the food chain such as catfish, swordfish, and sharks, as they can contain toxic levels of mercury. 

While there are several rules to adhere to and red flags to watch out for, establishing routines can make these things second nature. It’s true that adjusting to new circumstances may be challenging for people, but taking things slowly and tackling one issue at a time can help ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Make Frequent Appointments

Scheduling and keeping regular medical exams are also critical for monitoring the health of both you and your baby. Don’t take chances with your health or the well-being of your unborn child by missing important appointments. If you’re pregnant, it is important to see your doctor or visit a pregnancy clinic throughout all three trimesters. 

Genetic testing during pregnancy is becoming more common these days, and depending on your own medical history, your healthcare provider may recommend that you undergo it. If early screening reveals any possible issues in your unborn baby, either NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) or a maternal serum screening can help shed some light on the results. 

Put Yourself First

It’s vital to receive high-quality treatment throughout your pregnancy, from the beginning to the end. Doing so will not only help protect you, but it can also help maintain the health and safety of your child from the very beginning. Taking care of yourself might be difficult when experiencing a lot of change, but with a solid support network and ample prenatal care, you can help ensure the delivery of a healthy and happy baby.