Table of Contents
- 1 What should a woman avoid during early pregnancy?
- 2 How do pregnancy changes affect the mother?
- 3 Why is prenatal care important to the health of the fetus and the mother?
- 4 Why is early and regular healthcare during pregnancy vital for both mother and baby?
- 5 What can happen if the mother does not have proper prenatal health?
- 6 What are 3 complications of pregnancy?
- 7 What does it mean if my pregnancy test results are negative?
- 8 What are the benefits of prenatal blood tests?
What should a woman avoid during early pregnancy?
What Should I Avoid During My First Trimester?
- Avoid smoking and e-cigarettes.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Avoid raw or undercooked meat and eggs.
- Avoid raw sprouts.
- Avoid certain seafood.
- Avoid unpasteurized dairy products and unpasteurized juices.
- Avoid processed meats such as hot dogs and deli meats.
- Avoid too much caffeine.
How do pregnancy changes affect the mother?
The body’s posture changes during pregnancy to accommodate the growing fetus and the mother will experience weight gain. Breasts grow and change in preparation for lactation once the infant is born. Once lactation begins, the woman’s breasts swell significantly and can feel achy, lumpy, and heavy (engorgement).
Why is prenatal care important to the health of the fetus and the mother?
A pre-pregnancy check and prenatal care can help in the prevention of complications and help women in understanding how they can keep the baby healthy while taking care of themselves. Regular prenatal care can ensure the following: Reduction of risk of complications to the fetus or baby.
What happens to the mother in the first month of pregnancy?
Your breasts will continue to feel tender, swollen, and heavy. Your nipples will become darker and the veins in your breasts more noticeable. You may develop headaches, caused by the increasing levels of hormones in your system.
What are complications of pregnancy?
These are the most common complications women experience during pregnancy:
- High blood pressure. High blood pressure occurs when the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the organs and the placenta are narrowed.
- Gestational diabetes.
- Preeclampsia.
- Preterm labor.
- Miscarriage.
- Anemia.
- Infections.
- Breech position.
Why is early and regular healthcare during pregnancy vital for both mother and baby?
Regular prenatal care throughout your pregnancy helps to catch potential concerns early and reduces the risk of pregnancy and birth complications.
What can happen if the mother does not have proper prenatal health?
Babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care. Doctors can spot health problems early when they see mothers regularly.
What are 3 complications of pregnancy?
Some of the most common complications of pregnancy include:
- high blood pressure.
- gestational diabetes.
- preeclampsia.
- preterm labor.
- a loss of pregnancy, or miscarriage.
Why should I get tested for STDs while pregnant?
Testing and treating pregnant women for STDs is a vital way to prevent serious health complications to both mother and baby that may otherwise happen with infection. The sooner you begin receiving medical care during pregnancy, the better the health outcomes will be for you and your unborn baby.
What are the tests used to diagnose pregnancy?
These tests measure 2 substances found in the blood of all pregnant women: Pregnancy-associated plasma protein screening (PAPP-A). Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
What does it mean if my pregnancy test results are negative?
The tests show false-positive results. This means they show a problem when the fetus is actually healthy. Or the results may be false negative. This means they show that the fetus is normal when the fetus actually does have a health problem.
What are the benefits of prenatal blood tests?
They give information about a woman’s risk of having a baby with certain genetic conditions or birth defects. Screening is often done by taking a sample of your blood between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy. The 16th to 18th is ideal.