What is the Pregnancy Period?
Pregnancy period is divided into three trimesters. The word trimester means “three months”.
This can be confusing because a normal pregnancy period lasts forty weeks, just over nine months.
The first trimester is from conception to week fourteen. The second trimester is from week fourteen to week twenty-eight. And the third trimester is from week twenty-eight to labor and delivery.
The timing of pregnancy is measured using “gestational age”. Gestational age begins on the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP).
A- Before Pregnancy Period:
If you’re trying to have a baby or just thinking about it, it’s not too early to prepare for pregnancy.
Preconception health care focuses on what you can do before and between pregnancies. to increase the chances of having a healthy baby.
For some women, preparing their bodies for pregnancy period takes a few months. For other women, it may take longer.
Whether it’s your first, second, or sixth baby, the following steps are important to help you prepare for the healthiest pregnancy possible.
1- See Your Doctor :
Before becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about preconception health care. Your doctor will want to discuss your medical history, and any medical conditions you currently have that could affect a pregnancy.
He will also discuss any problems you have had in a previous pregnancy, any medications you are currently taking, any vaccinations you may need, and steps you can take before pregnancy to prevent certain birth defects.
If your doctor hasn’t talked to you about this kind of care, find out more! Make a list of talking points so you don’t forget anything!
Be sure to talk to your doctor about:
a- Medical conditions :
If you are currently suffering from health problems, make sure they are under control and treated.
Some of these conditions include sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), diabetes, thyroid disease, external icon, high blood pressure, and other chronic diseases.
b- Lifestyle and Behaviour :
Talk to your doctor if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use certain drugs; live in a stressful or abusive environment, or work with or live near toxic substances. Health care professionals can help you with counseling, treatment, and other support services.
c- Medications :
Taking certain medications during the pregnancy period can lead to serious birth defects. These include certain prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary or herbal supplements.
If you are planning a pregnancy, you should discuss the need to take any medications with your doctor before becoming pregnant and make sure you take only the medications you need.
2- The importance of having folic acid in the body :
Folic acid is a B vitamin. If a woman has enough folic acid (Take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day) in her body at least 1 month before and during the pregnancy period, it can help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine.
3- Stop these behaviors :
Smoking, alcohol, and the use of certain drugs can cause many problems during pregnancy for a woman and her babies, such as premature birth, birth defects, and infant death.
If you are trying to get pregnant and can’t stop drinking, smoking, or using drugs, contact your doctor.
4- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight :
People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of developing many serious conditions, including complications during pregnancy, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon).
People who are underweight are also at risk of serious health problems.
The key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight does not lie in short-term dietary changes. It is a lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular physical activity.
If you are underweight, overweight, or obese, discuss with your doctor how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight before becoming pregnant.
5- Learn your family history :
Gathering your family’s medical history can be important to your child’s health. You may not realize that your sister’s heart defect or your cousin’s sickle cell disease could affect your child, but it may be important to share this family history information with your doctor.
Other reasons why people choose genetic counseling include multiple miscarriages, infant deaths, difficulty getting pregnant (infertility), or genetic disease or birth defect that occurred during a previous pregnancy.
B- After Pregnancy Period:
1- Make a prenatal appointment with your doctor :
The next and most important thing to do is to make a prenatal appointment with your doctor – gynaecologist or OB/GYN.
When the day of your prenatal appointment arrives, be prepared!
Use this time to ask any questions you may have about your pregnancy and tell your doctor about any medications you are taking that may be harmful to your baby.
They will do a general check-up, take a urine sample to confirm the pregnancy, and explain what to expect over the next few months.
You will probably also receive a folder with reading materials and pregnancy safety tips.
Don’t overlook them – although some of these items may not be relevant until later in your pregnancy, take note of the information you have!
2- Start your prenatal vitamins :
Prenatal vitamins during pregnancy are not negotiable. This is another major step you need to take after you have experienced your pregnancy (or even trying to conceive) to help ensure a healthy pregnancy.
That’s because pregnant women need folate to help the baby develop, (and it can be difficult to get enough of it naturally in your normal diet) – prenatal vitamins contain folic acid, the best way to fill this need.
Prenatal vitamins (especially folic acid) also help protect against birth defects – which are more likely to occur in early pregnancy. To do this, you need to take it earlier to help you and your baby.
3- Adopt healthier habits during pregnancy period:
In addition to your prenatal visit, one of the main things on your first-trimester to-do list should be to start adopting healthier lifestyle habits in terms of nutrition, exercise, and activities.
The first trimester is the most critical in terms of development – and if all goes well, the chances of miscarriage decrease dramatically after the third month.
That’s why your goal here should be to take personal care during pregnancy seriously.
Eat a balanced diet (think: more fruit/vegetables, less processed or sugary foods), de-stress, make sleep a priority, and don’t forget low-impact exercises like walking and stretching to help combat pregnancy fatigue.
4- Check your medications and household products :
Did you know that the daily products you use in your beauty routine, over-the-counter medications, and the cleansing program should also be used with caution during pregnancy?
Many of the unsuspecting products you encounter on a daily basis contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to your growing baby.
Be sure to read the labels and look for products that are safe to use during pregnancy.
