Prenatal Care - What To Do And What Not To Do

Prenatal care is just a term to describe the health care a mother receives while pregnant. It deserves a separate term, however, because of its extraordinary importance. The things you do as an expecting mother can have a big impact on not only your own health, but that of your child as well. If you are pregnant, you should make it a point to get care early and visit your doctor as often as is necessary. Don't start missing checkups. While the most important thing you can do is follow the instructions your doctor gives you, here are some other do's and don'ts you should adhere to while carrying your child.

- See The Doctor Regularly

Your pregnancy should be a partnership with a good OB/GYN and nothing less. This means going in for frequent appointments and checkups and making sure your doctor stays abreast of any problems that occur. It is difficult—even for someone who has already had children—to tell whether or not they or their baby is healthy. You need a doctor to take a look and make his own determinations. That way, things can be course corrected if there is something amiss. This is what prenatal care is all about.

- Ask About Medications

Virtually everything and anything you put in your body when pregnant affects not only you but also the baby you're carrying in the womb. Proper prenatal care means being very aware of this fact. There are things you can get away with taking and eating when not pregnant that won't necessarily work when you are. Just run every medication by your doctor before you start taking it. This includes antibiotics and even over the counter medications. You're always better safe than sorry when it comes to what you ingest.

- Exercise

Obviously, you should run your activities past your doctor first but, unless he specifically advises against it, you should be getting plenty of exercise while pregnant. Many women use their pregnancies as an excuse to eat as much and do as little as possible for the entire time. This isn't healthy for either the mother or the baby. Follow a healthy regimen of good foods and regular exercise and you'll not only notice that your mood improves, you'll have a happier and healthier pregnancy.

- Educate Yourself

There have been a thousand books written about prenatal care and there will doubtlessly be a thousand more. Pick some of the best of these and read them. Become an active participant in your own pregnancy. Prepare yourself and your home for your new arrival and you won't be caught off guard when it's time.