Working Towards a Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very special time in a woman’s life, and therefore we need to be sure to nurture and take proper care during this time. An important key to a healthy pregnancy is being able to deal with stress and keep stress low. Here are tips to help you on your journey.

There are many factors that are going to help your pregnancy decisions. One of the most important is to gather as much information as you can regarding all of your options for you and your baby. This will help you to make the proper choices that best fit you and your needs to make this a good experience.

One of the most important things you can do is to create a good health care team, which includes a midwife or OB/GYN, a birthing coach or doula, and a chiropractor. These people have a great deal of information and skill in helping to make your pregnancy go well. With a good team in place, it can help ease a lot of stress and tension because you have resources to go to answer questions that you may not know yourself.

Your team can also help you create a birth plan that fits you and your spouse’s needs. There are a lot of decisions to be made throughout the birth process, especially if it is your intention to have a natural birth where no drugs are to be administered and/or you want the ability to have free motion throughout and don’t want to be bedridden during the course of labor.

This birth plan may include decisions as to fetal monitoring, labor induction, whether to use drugs or have your water broken, as well as what to do if you are going to get an epidural or episiotomy or C-section, and who will stay with the baby in case of an emergency situation (go to www.birthplan.com for more information). Copies of your birth plan should be in your chart before delivery; and also bring copies when you go into labor so that the staff on each duty shift knows to follow your plans.

It is important to ask questions throughout the course of your pregnancy, especially about things you are confused about. You have the right to ask for second opinions when you are uncertain about the answers you are getting. You must remember that you are in control to make your own decisions based on the information provided from those you trust.

It is OK to say no. And you should expect that your decision should be honored. This is not about ignoring medical advice that may put your baby at risk, but about making decisions with your health team that help make for a safe, natural pregnancy.

Here are some do’s and don’ts for a healthy, enjoyable pregnancy:

• Do practice wellness and don’t just go with the current fad.
• Don’t get overscheduled and be stressed out during your nine months of pregnancy. It will have a negative effect on you as well as on your baby.
• Do exercise regularly. Daily walks, water aerobics, and prenatal yoga are very good exercises during your pregnancy. Be sure to incorporate deep breathing with your exercise to increase oxygen content in your blood.
• Do not be sedentary . Excessive weight gain during pregnancy has been linked to labor difficulties and to gestational diabetes.
• Do consider the source of your prenatal vitamins. It is best to purchase your vitamins from a reputable health source or health care provider.
• Do not overload your body with caffeine intake. Caffeine can increase your risk of miscarriage.
• Do not agree to routine ultrasounds. While the American College of OB/GYNs recommends ultrasounds be performed only for specific reasons, the current trend is that people are having them done on a regular basis throughout their pregnancy including 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds for early pictures of their baby. People need to know that ultrasound is a force being applied into your body, and while it has been around for many years, expecting women and their families need to know that the effects of repeated ultrasound exposures on the fetus are not fully known.
• Do not take medications unless absolutely medically necessary. Be sure to be working with your OB/GYN and health team on any matter that might apply, before taking medications.
• Do not take anti-depressants. Studies show that exposure to anti-depressants increase the risk of pre-term labor.