ANTENATAL CARE AND HEALTH

I have just found out that i am pregnant.how soon should

i start antenatal care ?
Antenatal care should begin the moment you suspect you may pregnantand certainly
as soon as pregnancy is confirmed.the primary reason for this is as obvious as it is
important: the embryo starts developing immediately and within days after fertilisation,
it implants itself in the uterus.there rapidly dividing cells soon protect and nourish it with
a vascular organ known as the placenta and a sacf filled with a watery,cushioning liquid
kwonn as amniotic fluid.fundamental body systems are already forming and by the third
week a rather primitive heartbeat can be detected.by the end of the second month
human features are distinguishable although it is not until the third month that the
embryo is designated a foetus.at this time baby’s sex can be identified.
 How can my husband and i calculate the date when our baby will
be born ?

Your doctor wiil probably do this for you.he arrives at the date by using a formula that
differs from the nine month pregnancy period familiar to most people.your doctor will
determine your baby’s stage of development, or gestational age,by taking the first day
of your last 28 days menstrual cycle and adding 280 days,or 40 weeks.in effect, he
uses a lunar or (28 days) mount in figuring your due date,whereas most people think in
terms of a 30 days calendar month.thus, your doctor may refers to your final month as
the tenth will you think of it as the ninth.dont worry,both reckonings will turn out to be
the same.at best you should probably think of your due date as an approximate one
and be prepared for the arrival of your baby anytime from two weeks before to two
weeks after the date your obstetrician gives you.
 I am curious about the diet that doctors recommend for expectant mother today.what
are some week guidelines ?

An expectant mothers’s obstetrician will recommend a diet that includes a good

supply of food high in protein,calcium,iron,phosphorus,zinc,iodin,and magnesium.
These important nutrients are found in meat ,fish,chese,eggs,milk,nuts,green leafy
vegetables and fruits.folic acid which is needed for cell division,is also vital; it is
supplied by green vegetables, liver and some fruits.vibre foods are also essential
because they help to prevent constipation,a commond complain of expectan mother.a
mother to be will also be advised to drink a certain amount of fluid daily.tea, coffe, and
other drinks that contain caffeine should be reduced, preferably eliminated
decaffeinated beverages are acceptable.
 How much weight should a woman gain during pregnancy ?

Doctors are more concerned about good nutrition and adequate weight
gain to ensure a healthy baby than specific targets.if a woman is of
average weight and height , for example she may put on about 12
kilograms by the end of her ninth month.anything more than this is
unnecessary and does not help the mother or the baby.the increase in
weight, which is due to the baby and the canges in the essential organ,
depends on a mothers’s stature and her own height.
 Is it a good idea to exercise during pregnancy?

Most physicians believe that moderate exercise is essential to good health and
this applies to mothers-to-be as well. Regular exercise helps to keep the body
in good shape; it can also increase stam- ina, which will help to cope with the
rigours of labour. In addition it makes it easier to return to normal physical
toneas after the baby is born.It is normally recommended that the form of
exercising practised before be- coming pregnant should be continued.
However, sports that call for high degree of reflex coordination, such as diving,
skiing and skating, should be avoided. More dangerous activities, such as
mountaineering and horse riding should also be given up.
 My husband would like to participate in my preparation for childbirth What sort of
preparation will this entail?

One of the popular methods of preparing for childbirth is the Lamaze system-
labour, developed by the Fernand Lamaze in the 1950s-but there are others. In
most of these approaches, you and your husband will start weekly classes at
the beginning of your seventh month and will continue for six or eight sessions.
You will be taught breathing and relaxation techniques to use in labour, as well
as ways in which your husband can provide assistance and support for you.
Although none of the various childbirth preparation methods can guarantee a
totally painless childbirth , they can reduce pain and anxiety and give you a
hand in controlling the experience.
PREGNANCY PROBLEM
1. Morning Sickness
a. Nausea and vomiting can be one of the first
signs of pregnancy and usually begins around
the 6th week of pregnancy. It can occur at
any time of the day, and for most women, it
seems to stop after the 12th week of
pregnancy.
b. Morning Sickness Facts

More than 50% of pregnant women experience

morning sickness. Morning sickness refers to the
nauseous feeling you may have during the first
trimester of pregnancy, which is a result of the
increased hormones in your body.
Morning sickness can be accompanied by vomiting.
Many doctors think morning sickness is a good sign
because it means the placenta is developing well.
Have no fear, there are several ways to help give
you morning sickness relief.
Here are some steps to and alleviate your symptoms:

Helpful Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

Eat small meals often.

Drink fluids 1/2 hour before or after a meal, but not with meals.
Drink small amounts of fluids during the day to avoid dehydration.
Eat soda crackers 15 minutes before getting up in the morning.
Eat whatever you feel like eating, whenever you feel you can.
Ask someone else to cook for you; open the windows, or turn on fans if the odor bothers you.
Get plenty of rest and nap during the day.
Avoid warm places; feeling hot adds to nausea.
Sniff lemons or ginger, drink lemonade or eat watermelon to relieve nausea.
Eat salty potato chips; they have been found to settle stomachs enough to eat a meal.
Exercise
 Don’ts:

Do not lie down after eating.

Do not skip meals.
Do not let this condition go untreated.
Do not cook or eat spicy food.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Hyperemesis gravidarum is a condition characterized by severe nausea,
vomiting, weight loss, and sometimes electrolyte disturbance. Mild cases
are treated with dietary measures, rest, and antacids.

More severe cases often require a stay in the hospital so the mother can
receive fluid and nutrition through an intravenous line. DO NOT take any
medications for this condition without consulting your doctor first.
 ANEMIA
• Anemia is the most common hematological
abnormality in pregnant women. The main cause of
anemia in pregnancy and puerperium is the deficiency
of iron. Iron requirements increase during pregnancy,
and a failure to maintain sufficient levels of iron may
result in adverse maternal-fetal consequences.
Antenatal iron deficiency anemia (IDA) must be
adequately and safely treated to avoid complications
during the pregnancy. Other causes of anemia in
pregnancy require early diagnosis and precise
therapy.
 TOKSAEMIA
• Pre-eclampsia is a condition that can affect pregnant women, resulting in high blood
pressure and damage to one or more organs, often the kidneys (causing protein in the
urine).
• Signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia
-Pre-eclampsia, which occurs only in pregnancy, has several features. Two common signs of
pre-eclampsia are:
-high blood pressure; and
-the appearance of protein in the urine.
-Because these signs often don’t cause any symptoms, they are usually detected at a routine
ante-natal check-up.
-oedema (swelling), usually of the face, hands, feet and ankles;
-persistent headaches;
-blurred vision;
-shortness of breath;
-nausea and vomiting; and
-upper abdominal pain.
-If you are pregnant and develop a severe or persistent headache, abdominal pain or sudden
onset of blurred vision, you should seek urgent medical attention.
 BLEEDING
• Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can occur frequently in the first trimester of pregnancy, and may
not be a sign of problems. However, bleeding that occurs in the second and third trimester of
pregnancy can often be a sign of a possible complication. Bleeding can be caused by a number of
potential reasons.
• Miscarriage: Bleeding can be a sign of miscarriage, but does not mean that miscarriage is imminent.
Studies show that anywhere from 20-30% of women experience some degree of bleeding in early
pregnancy. Approximately half of the pregnant women who bleed do not have miscarriages.
Approximately 15-20% of all pregnancies result in a miscarriage, and the majority occur during the
first 12 weeks.

• Signs of Miscarriage include:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Cramping pain felt low in the stomach (stronger than menstrual cramps)
• Tissue passing through the vagina
• Most miscarriages cannot be prevented. They are often the body’s way of dealing with an unhealthy
pregnancy that was not developing. A miscarriage does not mean that you cannot have a future
healthy pregnancy or that you yourself are not healthy.
Ectopic pregnancies are caused by one or more of
the following:

An infection or inflammation of the fallopian tube

can cause it to become partially or entirely blocked.
Scar tissue from a previous infection or a surgical
procedure on the tube may also impede the egg’s
movement.
Previous surgery in the pelvic area or on the tubes
can cause adhesions.
Abnormal growths or a birth defect can result in an
abnormality in the tube’s shape.
 Who is at risk for having an ectopic pregnancy?
Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy include the following:

Maternal age of 35-44 years

Previous ectopic pregnancy
Previous pelvic or abdominal surgery
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Several induced abortions
Conceiving after having a tubal ligation or while an IUD is in
place
Smoking
Endometriosis
Undergoing fertility treatments or are using fertility
medications
What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?
Although you may experience typical signs and symptoms of
pregnancy, the following symptoms may be used to help
recognize a potential ectopic pregnancy:

Sharp or stabbing pain that may come and go and vary in

intensity. (The pain may be in the pelvis, abdomen, or even
the shoulder and neck due to blood from a ruptured ectopic
pregnancy gathering up under the diaphragm).
Vaginal bleeding, heavier or lighter than your normal period
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Weakness, dizziness, or fainting
It is important to contact your doctor immediately if you are
experiencing sharp pain that lasts more than a few minutes or
if you have bleeding.
 The chances of having a successful
pregnancy after an ectopic pregnancy
may be reduced, but this will depend
on why the pregnancy was ectopic
and your medical history. If the
fallopian tubes have been left in
place, you have approximately a 60%
chance of having a successful
pregnancy in the future.