Self Care During Pregnancy

Every pregnant woman needs good Health, good food and love and support of her family and community. Many women feel very healthy during pregnancy and do not have difficult births. Most babies are born healthy. At the same time, pregnancies can be one of the main dangers a woman faces in her life. About a half million women die each year from problems of pregnancy and birth [this is called maternal mortality], mostly in developing countries. Most of these deaths are preventable by providing basic care.

Staying healthy during pregnancy----

1. The pregnant lady should try to eat enough nutritious food. Good nutrition gives strength, prevents infections, builds a healthy baby and help prevent too much bleeding during birth. This way the mother will be feeding both herself and her baby.

2. The woman should go for prenatal [before birth] check ups to make sure there are no problems, and to find problems before they become pregnant.

3. Early identification and registration of pregnancy is useful.

4. Should go regular antenatal [before birth] check -ups.

5. She must know to calculate the expected date of delivery. Expected date of delivery will help the woman and her family to prepare for the birth of baby. Generally baby is borne after completion of forty weeks. For simple calculation add nine months to the last menstrual date and then add seven days to that date.

6. If she never had tetanus immunization, should get one as soon as possible and get 2 TT injections before the end of pregnancy with a gap of 4to6 weeks.

7. Sleep and rest whenever she can or for at least two hours during the day.

8. Keep clean. Bathe or wash regularly and clean teeth everyday.

9. Keep the breast and nipples clean during pregnancy. If nipples or breast are dry, apply some cream.

10. Should try to get daily exercise.

11. Should get treatment if she has any sexually transmitted infection or other infection.

12. She should not lift heavy load on her back.

13. She should not be X rayed before 7 months of pregnancy or if it is absolutely necessary an abdominal shield should be used for that.

14. She should not do self medication.

15. She should not drink alcohol or smoke.

16. She should avoid factory chemicals.

17. She should stay away from a child with a rash all over it's body as it may be suffering from German measles, which can harm unborn baby.

Common problems during pregnancy----

1. Sick stomach [nausea]--Although it is often called 'morning sickness' during pregnancy, she may feel sick to her stomach at any time during the day or day long. It usually goes away by the end of 3rd or 4th month.

What she can do to get over it-

Drink a cup of ginger or cinnamon tea 2to3 times a day, before meals.

Eat small meals often or avoid food that is oily or hard to digest.

Lick a lemon.

2. Heart burn or indigestion---

Heartburn causes a burning sensation in the throat or chest. It is most common in later half of pregnancy, after eating or lying down.

What she can do---?

Eat several small meals instead of a large meal.

Avoid oily or spicy foods.

Drink plenty of water and other clear liquids.

Try not to lie down just after eating.

Sleep with her head higher than her stomach.

Take a cup of milk or Yogurt, some soda bicarb in a glass of water or antacids.

3. Discharge from vagina---

During pregnancy, it is normal to have more white discharge than usual from vagina .But if the discharge Itches, burns, or has a bad smell, she may have an infection of the genitals, which should be consulted with a doctor.

If the discharge is bloody or has the mucus in it, or if it is too much in amount and looks like water, consult a doctor or health worker as this may be due to early onset of labour.

4. Swollen veins---

Blue swollen veins in the leg or around the vagina are called varicose veins. They are caused by the weight of growing baby. They can become quite large and painful.

What women can do---?

Try not to stand up for too long. If she has to stand, she can walk in place or move her feet and legs. When she is sitting down, put her feet up as often as possible.

5. Constipation---

Pregnancy makes the bowl work more slowly. This can make the stool harder. So it is more difficult to pass.

What woman can do---?

Drink at least 8 glasses of liquid everyday.

Get regular exercise.

If taking iron tablets, try taking only once a day. With vegetable or fruit juice or skip a few days.

Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and foods with fibers like whole grains and cassava roots.

Do not take laxatives.

6. Leg cramps--

Pregnant women often get foot or leg cramps--especially at nights, or when they stretch or point their toes down. Leg cramps may be caused by not enough calcium in diet.

What she can do--?

Eat plenty of food that contains calcium, such as milk, cheese, sesame seeds and green leafy vegetables.

She can do following exercise---

Push down on the heel and point the toe upwards.

Gently stroke legs to help it relax. DO NOT point toes down.

7. Low back pain--

Low back pain is caused by the weight of growing baby.

What she can do

Ask some one to massage her back.

Ask her family for help with some of the heavy work.

Take care to sit or stand with her back straight.

Sleep on her side with a pillow or rolled up cloth between her legs.

8. Swelling of feet and legs.

Some swelling of the feet is normal during pregnancy---especially for women who must stand all day.

What she can do--?

She can put her feet up as she can during the day.

When resting should lie on her left side;

If her feet are swollen, or swollen already when she wakes up in the morning. Or her hands and face also swell, she must consult a doctor.

RISKS AND DANGER SIGNS DURING PREGNANCY

WOMEN WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS CAN HAVE MORE DANGEROUS PREGNANCIES AND BIRTHS---

--Mothers under the age of 17 are more likely to have toxemia (which causes seizures), long, difficult labours, babies born too early (pre-mature) and blocked births (bones of pelvis are still developing and they may cause problems in delivery), which may damage the bladder, vagina and womb. they are also psychologically not mature enough to bear the burden of motherhood.
---Older mothers who have had many babies often have long, difficult labours, and heavy bleeding after the birth. They are mothers who are more than 35 years of age and who have many children.
---mothers who had problems with past pregnancies such as seizures, birth by operation, heavy bleeding, a too early or too small baby, or a baby born dead--are more likely to have problems in another pregnancy or birth.
---Women who are very short less than 145 cm.
---Women who are pale and weak (anemia) makes a women more likely to bleed heavily (hemorrhage) during birth become ill after child birth or even die.
---High blood pressure can lead to severe headaches, seizures and even death.
---Sugar sickness (diabetes) often causes very serious problems for the mother and the baby. the baby can die before birth or sometimes grows very large and gets stuck in the pelvis.
---Women with heart disease, tuberculosis and asthma.
---Women with disabilities, especially women with a loss of feeling in the body or difficulty in walking can have problems during both pregnancy and birth.
---Women with HIV can take medicines to prevent passing HIV to their babies.

DANGER SIGNS DURING PREGNANCIES WHICH NEED MEDICAL HELP