Precautions during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a wonderful time of a woman’s life. However, there are major changes taking place inside her body and she must follow several pregnancy precautions to keep the baby safe and healthy. The first trimester is the most crucial in this regard when the cases of miscarriage are the highest. Therefore, one must follow all the advices given by the doctor and follow all precautions in pregnancy. There are a lot of things that a pregnant woman must keep in mind. A list of the important precautions during pregnancy is covered here:

• During the first trimester, the woman’s body has just begun to adapt to the changes going on inside her body. The frequent urination and vomiting may leave the woman dehydrated, which is the chief cause of early miscarriages. Hence one of the most important precautions during early stages of pregnancy is to avoid chances of dehydration by having plenty of water, juices, milk, coconut water and water containing fruits and vegetables like cucumber.

• Quitting smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs is the crucial precaution during pregnancy. Nipping such habits as early as possible will ensure complications like preeclampsia, birth defects, miscarriage, and stillbirth do not occur in future. It is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle during and after pregnancy as well.

• Taking prenatal vitamins regularly is one of important precautions during pregnancy. 400 mcg or more of Folic acid must be consumed each day to ensure health and proper development of baby.

• The diet is also to be carefully controlled one of the during pregnancy precautions.  One has to cut down on the amount of caffeine intake to not more than 150 mg per day.

• Staying away from certain foods is of paramount importance for the safety of the baby. Certain fishes like King Mackerel, swordfish and shark contain alarmingly high amount of mercury harming the brain of the baby. Likewise, raw eggs must not be consumed as they may contain the salmonella virus. As a precaution during pregnancy in India and elsewhere, avoid foods containing raw eggs, unpasteurized cheeses like brie, chevre and blue cheeses like gorgonzola as they contain a virus named listeria which harms the baby.

• The pregnant lady must stay away from certain animals. One of the activities pregnant women should avoid in India and abroad is to stay away from raw meat and wash fruits and vegetables before consuming them to avoid chances of contracting toxoplasmosis. Avoid changing cat litter too, as if infected by toxoplasmosis during early pregnancy it may induce a miscarriage.

• Precautions for pregnant women also include staying away from strenuous physical activities or rigorous exercises. While it is important to stay fit and healthy, the exercise regime must be followed in presence of a specialized trainer and activities like lifting heavy bags or moving furniture around should not be allowed. It is also important to remain well hydrated while exercising.

• Precautions during pregnancy in India is to avoid Jacuzzis, spa or any kind of ayurvedic treatment that increases the body’s temperature. Similarly, take advice before practicing any Yoga postures.

• Certain medications and herbs have been proved to induce preterm labor or miscarriage. Precautions during early pregnancy in India includes staying away from strong pesticides and herbs like passion flower and black cohosh. Staying away from strong smells and paint is also recommended.
  

There are numerous precautions while pregnant in all countries around the world. However, pregnancy is also a time to enjoy and soak in the bliss of motherhood. Keep certain things in mind and do not let these advices work you up or dampen your spirit these nine joyous months of pregnancy.

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Diet Plan for Pregnant women

Pregnancy is a time when a woman gets in touch with her true feminine side. During these 9 months, the soon-to-be mother develops a unique bond with her child and begins to care for the baby even before she is born. It is important that pregnant women take a balanced diet to ensure all the necessary nutrients reach the mother’s body as well as provide nourishment to the developing fetus.

A pregnancy diet chart is the best way to estimate the daily nutritional requirements and stick to them. During early pregnancy a woman may feel exhausted and show lack of appetite but to keep one energized, following a pregnancy diet plan is essential. In the forthcoming section, we will cover some details about a diet chart for pregnant women.

A diet plan for pregnant women must be cleverly thought of and implemented. All the meals from the breakfast to the dinner must contain all the essential nutrients and not contain unnecessary fats which may lead to putting up of additional pounds by the pregnant woman. A healthy diet menu can be of the following type:

1.) A refreshing breakfast: the most common woe of pregnant women is morning sickness and nausea. To avoid these, it is important that the pregnancy food chart lists out a nutritious yet light morning beverage like herbal tea, fruit juice like apple or tomato, toned milk or a whole hearted nutrition of a dry fruit milk shake. Beginning the day with a refreshing drink clears out the toxins and leaves you toned for the coming day. Next item in the pregnancy food chart is the breakfast, which is considered the most important meal of the day even during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be loaded with nutrients. Some beneficial suggestions for breakfast include- whole wheat bread, idlis, dhoklas, ravas dosas, vegetable omelette and the goodness of dry fruits like cashew nuts. Other nutritious options include fruits like dates, apples, apricots, oranges and porridge, oats, upma or spinach parathas served with yoghurt.

2.) The brunch: the mid-morning meal or brunch is the time when pregnant women would like to munch on something, so this snack must not be too heavy or fatty. Soups are the best option for this meal according to diet for pregnant woman. One can draw up a schedule with different soups for each day of the week to receive all vitamins and minerals without feeling monotonous. Some options are Minestrone soup, tomato soup, mixed vegetable soup and creamy spinach soup.

3.) The nourishing lunch: Pregnancy is also the time when women have food aversions and sudden cravings. Hence, the diet plan during pregnancy varies from woman to woman with the basic aim of fulfilling all dietary requirements. When it comes to lunch, one must remember not indulging in a heavy meal that makes the woman feel lethargic or drowsy. Insist on rotis with a bowl of pulses and green leafy vegetables to provide fibres, carbohydrates, micro and macro nutrients and vitamins. Sprouted salad, curd, raita, vegetables like carrots, peas, cauliflower and an appropriate serving of rice must be included in Indian diet for pregnant women.

4.) Evening snacks: cut down on caffeine containing products like coffee, tea and aerated drinks and switch to milk and green tea which will have a soothing and toning effect on the pregnant body. Instead of munching on chips and cookies during evening, switch to fruits like apples, dates, nuts and have a small vegetable sandwich, fruit smoothie or delicious gourd or carrot halwa as per diet chart during pregnancy.

5.) Dinner: the last meal of the day must always be light. Good dinner dishes include Dal, vegetable Biryani, khichdi, palak paneer and various salads along with curd or buttermilk.

The diet chart for pregnancy month wise must be drawn out as the requirement of the body change with the growing baby. Pregnancy diet for Indian women is crucial as there are majority of malnourishment cases reported due to poor nutrition of the mother during pregnancy.

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How to take care of pregnant women

Giving birth to a baby is one of the most beautiful moments of a woman’s life. The joy of motherhood is a feeling indescribable. Right from the moment a woman becomes aware that a tiny little one is growing inside her, she begins to love her with all her heart. During the nine months of pregnancy, the woman has to be very careful about her baby and her health. Care of pregnant women can be a difficult task and the partners are required to be supportive at all times. Pregnant women must be fully aware of the changes taking place inside their bodies to avoid any complications and take proper care during pregnancy. Several books are available on pregnancy and internet is a great help in determining how to care during pregnancy. In the forthcoming section, we will cover several important tips on care to be taken during pregnancy.

The first step towards a healthy pregnancy is to change one’s dietary habits. Take proper meals on the right time and include all nutrients in a balanced manner. The baby developing in the mother’s womb is totally dependent on her for nutrition and hence your pregnancy diet must be capable of keeping the mother and baby healthy. The top care in pregnancy is that the diet must contain an array of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, milk and dairy products.

Pregnancy care includes coming out of harmful habits like smoking and drinking. Alcohol and tobacco is detrimental to the baby’s health and must be avoided at all costs. Even passive smoking is harmful for the baby. Likewise, a pregnant lady must cut down on caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea and aerated beverages to prevent problems like indigestion and constipation. Switching to herbal tea and fruit juices brings down the morning sickness, bloating and nausea that pregnant women are quite prone to. Avoid eating fried foods, synthetic and processed food items as well.

A few simple tips can go a long way to a healthy pregnancy, like taking a regular nap and drinking adequate amount of water. During sleep, your baby rests as well and your body repairs itself. It is advised to drink at least 8 to 9 glasses for water each day to flush out toxins from your body.

For all loved ones who are worried about how to take care of pregnant lady, you can do your bit by helping her exercise and if you are the partner, both of you can go to Yoga or special exercise sessions for expecting couples together. Joining such sessions helps learning valuable tricks and breathing exercises which help in a smooth delivery. Childbirth and breastfeeding classes make the couple ready for the actual experience and save them from unnecessary problems when the baby actually arrives.

Visiting your doctor on scheduled visits as well as whenever you experience any discomfort is the best care for pregnant women. During the first visit, the doctor runs several tests to ensure that the baby and the mother are healthy. He recommends prenatal vitamins and Iron and Calcium supplements that must be taken by the woman without fail.

One of very important care tips during pregnancy is to avoid certain foods like blue cheese and fishes like swordfish and catfish. Exposure to such items may put your baby’s life to risk. Also, if you have a pet cat, do not change cat litter during pregnancy and brush your teeth regularly. Poor dental health can sometimes lead to complications during pregnancy, so visit your dentist regularly.

For husbands perplexed about how to care in pregnancy time, avoid unnecessary burden on the woman by helping her in daily activities and stopping her from undertaking strenuous physical activities.

Pregnancy care tips are hundreds in number. So make sure you refer your doctor and elders regularly and have a balanced diet with a healthy lifestyle. Most of all avoid stress and enjoy the bliss of pregnancy for this period seldom comes back. 

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