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Tag: best time to get pregnant

Becoming Pregnant

Becoming Pregnant

Starting a family is a wonderful experience and certain precautions can make the journey more enjoyable.  It is important to follow a healthy lifestyle even while planning and trying to conceive as the first three months are crucial for a baby’s growth and you may come to know of the pregnancy only when a period is missed.

The first signs of Pregnancy

  • Enlarged and tender breasts
  • A metallic taste in the mouth
  • A feeling of tiredness and/or feeling highly emotional  
  • Dizziness, Nausea and /or Vomiting
  • Increased vaginal discharge
  • Craving for unusual food and/or aversion to strong smells and certain things like smoking
  • Frequent urination

Confirming the Good News

Once some signs that indicate pregnancy are noticed, it is advisable to get it confirmed through:

  • Urine Test: The urine sample can be tested in a lab as in pregnancy, a hormone appears in the urine.
  • Home Pregnancy Kits : You can get a home pregnancy kit at the pharmacy. Always use the first urine sample of the day and follow the instructions on the package. The kit contains a chemical solution through which when urine is passed and the color changes only when pregnant. Though they are fairly accurate, a lab diagnosis is more accurate.
  • Physical Examination: After two missed periods, the doctor may do a vaginal examination to confirm the pregnancy.

Calculating the EDD (Estimated Delivery Date )

It is normal to start thinking of the due date for the delivery. Keep in mind that these calculations are estimates and based on averages.

EDD = LMP + 280 DAYS ( LMP = last period ).

A normal pregnancy can last between 38 to 42 weeks, though on an average it lasts 40 weeks. One is most likely to conceive during the ovulation stage, which is about 14 days before the next period is due.

Things to Avoid

The baby’s organs are formed during the first trimester, so one has to be very careful during this time. If you want a healthy baby, you should definitely avoid the following:

  • Medications without prescriptions: We often take medicines for common complaints but many of these drugs may harm the baby. When one discovers one is pregnant, one should inform the doctor immediately, who may either alter the medicine or reduce the dosage.
  • Smoking : Both active and passive smoking is very harmful for the growing baby. It deprives the foetus of oxygen and may lead to a number of complications like malformation, miscarriage, still birth, pre mature delivery, or low birth weight baby’s.  Avoid smoky places and give up smoking for the sake of a new life.
  • Alcohol: If the mother is a heavy drinker, the baby can be seriously harmed. There are no safe levels of drinking so it’s best to completely abstain from alcohol during this period. Talk to your gynecologist and take her advice regarding your concerns.
  • Poor Hygiene: Raw meat, soil particles and pet feces contain parasites which may cause serious harm to the baby. Wash your hands thoroughly especially before eating anything and be very careful about the hygiene when eating out.

To read more on Pregnancy, click on the link below,

Pregnancy

Thinking About Pregnancy 

Thinking About Pregnancy

Thinking About Pregnancy by Famhealth

Having a baby can be an amazing experience and certainly deserves well thought out planning. How can we start planning and what comprises planning are questions that worry women and men who want to start a family. All these questions and many more will be answered in this series called Mother & Baby Care.

Why Should Pregnancy Be Planned?

  • It increases the chances of conception and those of having a normal healthy baby.
  • It helps the mother get back to normal health and shape at the earliest.

How much time should be assigned for planning?

The ideal time would be 3 months before the baby is conceived since in the initial weeks the baby develops radically and yet one may not be aware that conception has happened.  

Requirements during the planning stage?

  • Nutritious Diet: Nutritionist Nidhi Agarwal Khemka stresses on a good diet for both parents and suggests that they should make these changes together. A healthy nutritious meal is needed by the mother to be because she will nurture the baby while a healthy diet is needed by the father as the sperm quality can be adversely affected by bad diet, alcohol and smoking. It is a good idea to know if one is nutritionally deficient in any vitamin or mineral before conceiving as deficiency of folic acid may lead to neural tube defects in the baby while low levels of iron may lead to excess fatigue and complications.
  • Fitness: Keeping physically fit and active
  • Avoiding Stress: It is imperative to avoid work related stress when one plans to conceive.
  • Keeping Records: Check old vaccination cards to see if all the vaccines were given as absence of some may be fatal to the baby and could cause birth defects. Also avoid contact with chemicals and xrays that may lead to problems in conceiving. Check with the doctor about conditions like thyroid, diabetes, hypertension or epilepsy before getting pregnant.
  • The Right Weight: Keep a check on the weighing scale as both overweight and underweight mothers may need a doctor’s advice to come to the ideal weight. One should never follow fad diets during pregnancy planning.

The couple must talk to each other and the immediate family about planning for the baby as this makes everyone involved and prepared. It also gives that much needed time to work out any issues that may crop up during pregnancy while increasing the support system around.

To read more on Pregnancy, click on the link below,

Pregnancy