Every Pregnant Woman Should Know These Facts

Pregnancy gives one new understanding of the concept of sharing space with another human being. For nine months, your body plays host to another person. During pregnancy, each day seems to bring a new revelation about yourself and more often than not your body.

There are many important facts that a person should know as they embark on this journey. Some of them concern the physical changes in an expectant mother's body and some deal with the development of the baby. Expectant mothers are inundated with information; healthcare providers, family, friends and even strangers on the street offer advice and remedies to treat some of pregnancy's less than thrilling side effects, swelling, nausea in the first trimester, or back pain, to name a few.

Here are a few basic things that every expecting mother should know:

1. If you experience pregnancy symptoms, a missed period, spotting between periods, fatigue, sudden changes in appetite or tastes, etc., take a pregnancy test and arrange a doctor's visit to be sure that you're pregnant and not experiencing something else. Second, get screened for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)--just to be safe; some STDs can go undetected for years. A healthy baby can be born to a mother with an STD, specifically HIV, if treated during pregnancy. Know your status.
2. Folic Acid and Calcium are essential for the mother's health and that of the growing baby. Folic Acid helps prevent the birth defect Spinal Bifida and calcium ensures healthy teeth and bone development.
3. It's OK to exercise when you're pregnant. It can even make labor easier. Just forgo exercises where you lay on your back or directly engage the abdominal muscles after the first trimester. Walking an hour or so a day is an easy way to get in some exercise; gentle stretches can help relieve some of the discomforts caused by an expanding belly and extra weight as well.
4. Epidurals and episiotymies are not mandatory. Ask your doctor lots of questions and decide before you go in to labor whether or not you want an epidural, a shot of painkiller injected directly into the spine. It eases labor pains, but is also believed to prolong labor. An episiotmy occurs when the doctor or midwife cuts the perineum, the tissue between the vaginal opening and the anus, with the intention of easing the birth and preventing damaging tearing during the birth. Good nutrition, Kegel exercises and perineal massage can help decrease the likelihood that you will need this procedure.
5. Braxton-Hicks or false labor contractions are common. If you experience them try to walk them off. If they become painful or less than 12 minutes apart get to a doctor you could be going into preterm labor.
6. C-sections are surgery. More women are opting to have C-section deliveries for a variety of reasons.This type of delivery comes with all of the usual risks of surgery and childbirth.
7. Eat a nutritious balanced diet and keep sweets to a minimum.You are not eating for two. A pregnant woman needs to eat a nutritious diet and consume an average 2200--2800 calories. If you gain more than the recommended 25--35 pounds needed for a healthy pregnancy or are already overweight before becoming pregnant, you may increase the chances of your developing gestational diabetes, toxemia and other complications.

These seven points make for a good starting place to help insure a healthful, happy pregnancy experience and a healthy baby. Remember, taking care of your baby means taking care of yourself.

Sources:
Pregnancy/Birth

http://pregnancy.about.com/

Episiotymy

http://pregnancy.about.com/od/episiotomy/a/episiotomy.htm

http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/episiotomy/a/aa042897.htm

STDs

http://pregnancy.about.com/od/sexuallytransmitt/STDs_Pregnancy.htm

Fit Pregnancy

http://www.fitpregnancy.com/

http://www.fitpregnancy.com/pregnancy_exercise_safety/yourpregnancy/1246

http://www.fitpregnancy.com/pregnancy_exercise_motivation/yourpregnancy/1136
http://www.fitpregnancy.com/tension_relax_stretch/yourpregnancy/1135