healthykids
BABY ON BOARD
PREPARING FOR PREGNANCY & MOTHERHOOD
by Jessica Iclisoy
It’s vital for a woman of any age to physically prepare for pregnancy and motherhood, for the health of both the mother and the baby. Start by speaking with a trusted medical practitioner, and then consider the following practical advice, geared to keep everyone healthy and happy through every stage of the childbirth process.
Getting Ready for Pregnancy Stop taking birth control pills. If you’ve been using a hormon- al method of birth control, your doctor may want you to take several months off before trying to conceive. Doing so allows your cycles to regulate and clears your body of any lingering manmade hormones; use another form of non-hormonal birth control during this time.
Get your body in shape. According to Mairi Breen Rothman, a certified nurse-midwife with the M.A.M.A.S., Inc. home birth practice, in Takoma Park, Maryland, being in shape ensures a healthier pregnancy. “Pregnancy is hard work, and
50 NA Triangle
www.natriangle.com
the more strength you have, especially in your core, back and legs, the better you’ll feel during pregnancy,” she advises. Be- ing in good physical shape before pregnancy can also make it easier to stay fit during the nine months that follow.
Start eating better. A balanced, organic diet provides the nutrients needed to raise a healthy developing baby. “Dur- ing pregnancy, the baby is very much a part of its mother’s body,” says Rothman. “That means eating toxin-free foods, which cuts back on chemicals found in the mom’s body, will also limit chemical exposure to the baby.” Also remember to take a prenatal vitamin; a study by the MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, at the University of Southampton, in the UK, found that only 5.5 percent of the 238 pregnant women monitored had taken the recommended 400 micrograms of folic acid each day prior to becoming pregnant.
Take care of chronic medical conditions. If you have diabe- tes, high blood pressure or asthma, for example, get it under control before becoming pregnant. Apprise your healthcare professional of any family health problems, so he or she can plan ahead once you conceive.
Having a Healthy Pregnancy Take prenatal yoga. “Prenatal yoga not only promotes long, lean and supple muscles, it also helps with breathing, which is important during labor and delivery,” counsels Rothman. Yoga also helps open the hip and pelvic joints and eases the aches and pains of pregnancy. The cat-cow pose, in particular,
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56