Prenatal care is one of the most important things you should do once you knew that you’re pregnant. From that day on, you’re not only taking care of yourself but you also need to care for and nurture the growing baby inside your womb.
Good prenatal care also plays a huge factor in the health of the pregnancy and your baby during birth. If it’s you’re first time being an expecting mom, here are the basic things you need to know in order to take care of your baby and yourself at the same time.
Have a Prenatal Check-up
Once you’ve had a positive home pregnancy test, you need to book an appointment with your obstetrician gynecologist as soon as possible. On the first visit, your pregnancy will be confirmed and you will also be checked fully to spot health problems early on and treat it immediately so it doesn’t cause harm to the pregnancy.
Your doctor will also prescribe you some prenatal vitamins and give some advice on some lifestyle changes you need to take for a healthy pregnancy. Be sure to attend every scheduled prenatal appointment to monitor the development of the pregnancy.
Keep Some Health Issues under Control
Health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, and many more can make pose some danger to the pregnancy. If you have any health issue when you got pregnant, it is important to keep them under control so it doesn’t do harm to you and your baby inside the womb. Your doctor can help you manage these health problems so you know what to do.
Follow a Healthy Lifestyle
Aside from all those vitamins and prenatal visits, you also need to follow a healthy lifestyle to take care of and nurture the baby properly inside. Feed your body with healthy foods and avoid processed foods if possible.
Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, meats, milk, and other healthy and natural food. The things that you put in your body are taken in by the baby as well so it is important to choose healthy foods. Aside from that, take time and quit smoking and drinking while pregnant. These two are really harmful to the baby and can even cause developmental defects.
Steer Away from Toxic Chemicals
A lot of household products contain harsh chemicals as active ingredients. While it is fine to use them when you’re not pregnant, be sure to steer away from products with toxic chemicals during pregnancy. Look for organic alternatives instead which are safer to use especially in your condition. Some chemicals can get into the body even on skin contact and could cause harm to the development of the fetus inside the womb.Â
It is important to be more careful now that you’re pregnant. You’re not only taking care of yourself, but you’re also responsible for caring for the little life that’s growing inside your body. With these basic tips, you can take care of yourself and your baby properly even if it’s still your first time.