personal choice, whether it’s an obstetrician, GP or midwife. Your first appointment is usually scheduled for around the eight week mark. “The heartbeat is usually visible from six weeks, or two weeks after the missed period, and many doctors will schedule the first appointment after this,” says Dr Zinn.
When it comes to government hospitals, you’ll need to go to the one nearest to where you live. Or you can visit a Midwife Obstetric Unit if there is one nearby. Either way, you will most likely give birth with the help of a midwife, unless your
pregnancy runs into
complications. In this situation you will be transferred to an academic training hospital. At your first appointment you will get your clinic card. This card will be filled out at each appointment and must remain with you throughout the pregnancy. When given an appointment date, make sure to stick to it as there are long waiting lists if you miss one.
4 MAKE
CHANGES You should be eating a protein-rich, high fibre diet, drinking plenty of water and getting lots of rest. If you’re underweight or overweight, start a healthy eating plan or see a dietician to plan the best diet for you and your pregnancy. See our list of foods to add and remove from your diet on page 28.
“Alcohol is to be avoided, as the unseen effects of even small amounts is impossible to determine,” says Dr Zinn. Also, coffee should be limited to two cups a day. You will also need to quit smoking and taking any drugs immediately.
SENSIBLE LIFESTYLE
If you’re a couch potato, you need to get moving. Speak to your healthcare provider about how much and what kind of exercise you should do. If you are unable to speak to anyone, then walking is perfectly safe for all stages of pregnancy. If you’re already a gym bunny, “exercise is good but not in competition with the energy demands of early pregnancy, so reduce the duration and intensity to about 75 percent,” says Dr Zinn. You should also avoid competing or extreme sports. If travel to a malaria area is on the cards, then it is best to cancel your plans. If you live in a malaria area, speak to your doctor about reducing your risk.
5
UPDATE YOUR INOCULATIONS Certain vaccinations
are regarded as a good idea during pregnancy to protect you and/or your newborn baby, but are not routinely recommended or paid for by health services in South Africa at the moment. These include vaccinations against flu (after the first trimester), and the diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (whooping cough) or DTaP vaccine. “Whooping cough can be a serious disease for a newborn and can be prevented by vaccinating during pregnancy or having a booster if you’ve been vaccinated before,” says Dr Zinn. DTaP is given from 27 weeks in each pregnancy, regardless of whether you’ve had the vaccination before.
6
AND STOCK UP ON SUPPLEMENTS “In an ideal world, this would be a planned pregnancy,
ADDRESS ANY HEALTH CONCERNS
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