Pregnancy is a physiological condition in which a woman carries a growing fetus in her womb. The time period between the last menstrual period and the birth of the child is usually never more than 40 weeks. If you are pregnant or planning to have a child, you would quite obviously hope for a safe delivery and a healthy baby. Both these goals can be readily achieved if special care is taken during pregnancy.
Missing one or more successive menstrual periods is often the first sign of pregnancy. However, many other conditions that cause hormonal imbalances can also cause missing periods. Hence, it is advisable to consult a gynecologist and get investigated to find out the cause of the symptom. Nausea or morning sickness is a common symptom early during pregnancy. You may tire easily and feel the need to rest more during this period. Other symptoms that a woman may complain of during pregnancy include fatigue, soreness of the breasts and nipples, headache, frequent urination, mood swings, and specific cravings or aversions in food.
You can test yourself for pregnancy at home using pregnancy test kits that are readily available with most medical stores. These are considered to be fairly accurate. If you test positive, you should immediately consult your doctor who will then examine you and ask for laboratory tests. High levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadatropin (HCG) in the urine is strongly indicative of pregnancy.
Preconception care consists of precautionary measures that you should be taking before getting pregnant. You should visit your doctor regualrly to assess your health status and to ensure that you are physically and mentally prepared to have a child. You need to give up habits that may harm your baby like smoking and drinking alcohol. Certain medications may also interfere with conception as well as the growth of the embryo. These need to be discontinued at least a few weeks before you try to conceive. Drinking plenty of water and sticking to a healthy diet is recommended. Prenatal care involves the overall management of a woman's health throughout the pregnancy right up to childbirth.
In order to prevent any neural tube defects in her unborn child, a pregnant woman should take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. This should be taken before and during pregnancy. Getting vaccinated before pregnancy for certain diseases like chicken pox and rubella makes perfect sense because such illnesses are known to harm the growing fetus. Drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and the like are best avoided before, during, and after pregnancy. A would-be mother must put conscious efforts to be content and calm. A healthy weight should be maintained all along through the right type of diet and exercise.
The doctor should always be kept informed about any symptoms that arouse suspicion of complications or cause distress. Every pregnancy has its associated risks in relation to the mother as well as the baby. Certain factors that may have been present before pregnancy, or which may have developed during the course of pregnancy, can add to the risks. In such cases, complete bed rest at home or in a nursing home and regular monitoring of the pregnancy by a team of specialists may become necessary.
The factors that can increase the risks involved in a pregnancy include an overweight or underweight woman; health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, bleeding disorders, anemia, or HIV infection; addiction to drugs, tobacco, or alcohol; and a past history of miscarriage, stillbirth, or preterm labor. If the woman is very young or too old, the chances of pregnancy-related compliacations certainly increase.
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