PREGNANCY

Your health, both before conception and during the first weeks after, is particularly important for your baby's health. Start helping your baby even before you become pregnant.
1:If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, seizure disorders, or any inherited diseases, talk with your doctor before getting pregnant. Your doctor may want to modify your treatment and may be able to prescribe medicine that is safer for the developing baby.
2:Before you start trying to get pregnant, have a blood test to check your rubella immunity. If you test negative, you will want to receive an immunization. To avoid harming the baby, do not become pregnant for at least three months following the immunization.
3:If you have symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases or are unsure of your partner's sexual history, arrange for an examination and testing with your doctor.
4:Eat well. Make sure your diet includes plenty of green leafy vegetables and legumes, and take a folic acid supplement containing 0.4 mg of folate. Folic acid helps prevent certain birth defects, such as spina bifida. Other good sources of folic acid include fortified cereal and whole-wheat bread.
5:Stop smoking and stop drinking alcohol.
6:Stop all illegal drug use and eliminate any medications that are not absolutely essential.
7:If you are anxious or depressed, get help.
8:Buy a good book on pregnancy and begin reading.

Home Pregnancy Tests
If you become pregnant, it is important that you know right away. The quickest way is with a home pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests are inexpensive and very reliable when done correctly. Some tests can show positive results within a few days of the first missed period. Select a test that has simple instructions and follow them exactly. Mistakes can lead to false results. If the test is positive, schedule an appointment with your doctor to confirm it. Even if the test is negative, treat yourself as if you are pregnant until you are sure.

Morning Sickness For many women, the first few months of pregnancy bring morning sickness, which can happen at any time of the day. This is a normal result of the body's adjustment to pregnancy. The following home treatment can help:
1:Eat five or six small meals a day to avoid an empty stomach. Include some protein in each of these meals.
2:Eat crackers or dry toast before getting up in the morning.
3:Increase your intake of vitamin B6 by eating more whole grains and cereals, wheat germ, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Talk with your caregiver before taking vitamin supplements during early pregnancy. They may cause nausea.
Keep a positive attitude. Morning sickness usually passes in three to four months.

Early Pregnancy (First Trimester)

1:Continue to avoid smoking, alcohol, drugs.
2:Make the first visit to your caregiver in the first 10 to 12 weeks of your pregnancy.
3:Get regular prenatal care from your caregiver.
4:Continue to improve your nutrition. Call your local WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) agency to learn if you are eligible for this program. WIC provides vouchers for nutritious food, nutrition education, and breast-feeding support to pregnant women, women with new babies, and children under age 5.
5:Continue taking 0.4 mg folic acid daily. As long as you are eating a well-balanced diet, most obstetricians no longer recommend vitamin supplements. In fact, there is some evidence that vitamin supplements may cause more morning sickness early in the pregnancy.
6:Avoid touching cat feces and litter boxes. Also, cook all meats well before eating. Cat feces and undercooked or raw meat can carry toxoplasmosis, an infection that can cause brain damage in the fetus or miscarriage.
7:Avoid all chemical vapors, paint fumes, and poisons.
8:If you drink coffee or soda with caffeine, cut back to two cups per day.

Middle Pregnancy (Second Trimester)
Continue with the safeguards described above.
Reduce the risk of injury and falls:
Always wear your seat belt.
Wear sensible shoes.
Continue moderate levels of your regular exercises but do not become exhausted or significantly short of breath.
Avoid sports with a high risk of falls or impact.
Increase your calcium intake by drinking more milk (a quart of skim or low-fat milk a day) or through other sources of calcium.
Control your weight as advised by your caregiver.

Late Pregnancy (Third Trimester)
Maintain all of the other guidelines listed above.
Get plenty of rest.
Take childbirth classes with your partner or designated coach.
Educate yourself about early signs of labor.
If appropriate, have your other children take a class to help them adjust to the new baby.
Practice relaxation exercises. They will be helpful during labor.
Develop a written birth plan with your caregiver that outlines your wishes and expectations throughout the labor and delivery.
Maintain a good sense of humor.

Cesarean Deliveries
Most babies are delivered vaginally, just as nature intended. However, when the health of the baby or mother is at risk, doctors can deliver the baby through an incision in the abdomen. This is called a cesarean delivery or a C-section. There are three main concerns with cesarean deliveries:
More risk. Many mothers who have C-sections develop infections or bleeding that requires additional medications or treatment. Although the maternal death rate for C-sections is four times higher than the rate for vaginal deliveries, the rate for both types of delivery is very low.
Longer recovery. You can usually go home within one day after a vaginal delivery. Hospital stays after cesarean deliveries may be two to three days. After a cesarean, you must limit your activity over the next four to six weeks to allow the incision to heal.
Less involvement. The mother and other family members can be more involved with a vaginal delivery. Cesarean delivery is a surgery, which limits family involvement.

C-sections are a good idea when either the baby or the mother is in danger. A cesarean should not be done just because it is easier to schedule or because you have previously had a C-section delivery. Ask your caregiver what you can do to help avoid the need for a cesarean delivery.

Breast-Feeding
Breast milk is the ideal food for your new baby. Consider taking a breast-feeding class before your baby is born.