If you have just found out that you are pregnant, here are a few tips which should help to ensure that you and your baby remain healthy throughout the course of your pregnancy.
Take a folic acid supplement
Most doctors recommend that pregnant women take a folic acid supplement for the first 12 weeks of their pregnancy. Research has shown that this substance can help to reduce the chances of a foetus developing neural tube defects.
If you are found to have a high risk of experiencing this type of defect (because, for example, you suffer from diabetes or have a family history of neural tube defects), your obstetrician may advise you to take a larger-than-average dose of folic acid. Additionally, they may instruct you to consume foods that are rich in this substance, such as brown rice and leafy green vegetables.
Contact your obstetrician if you experience unusual symptoms
It is important to monitor your physical health throughout your pregnancy and to seek medical advice immediately if you notice unusual symptoms.
For example, if you notice spots of blood after going to the bathroom, you should contact your obstetrician as soon as possible. Whilst bleeding during pregnancy is not always a serious issue, it can sometimes be a sign of a placental abruption or an impending miscarriage. As such, it is not a symptom you should ignore.
Similarly, you should have your obstetrician perform a medical examination if you experience persistent, severe abdominal pain, as this could be an early warning sign of an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage.
Eliminate certain types of foods and drinks
There are several types of food and drink which you should avoid during your pregnancy because these items could endanger the health of your unborn child.
For example, it is best to avoid eating undercooked meat (such as rare-cooked steak), raw shellfish and soft-boiled eggs when you are pregnant, as these foods could give you and your baby salmonella poisoning.
Likewise, you should not eat blue cheeses, brie or raw milk at any point during your pregnancy, as these items may contain a type of bacteria called listeria, which can cause a serious condition known as listeriosis.
Finally, you should avoid drinking coffee when pregnant (or limit your intake to one small, weak cup per day), as excessive amounts of caffeine can increase the chances of a miscarriage and of your baby having a low birth weight.
Share28 November 2017
Thanks for visiting my health blog! My name's Caroline. A few years ago, I started to notice changes in my appearance. My hair was dull, my eyes were circled with dark rings, and my skin was looking like it used to when I was a teenager. When cosmetic treatments didn't fix things, I realised the problem wasn't on the outside of my body—it was on the inside! That's when I started researching how to keep myself healthy. To my surprise, improving my internal health really worked. A few years down the line, I feel and look better than ever, and I'm ready to share what I've learned with all of you.