Pregnancy Care: How to take care of yourself during pregnancy?
There is no need to convince anyone that the daily habits of pregnant women have a huge impact on how a child develops. Adequate diet, physical activity, and avoidance of all stimulants are the most popular activities that future mothers should pay special attention to. Today we suggest what steps should be taken to additionally care for the developing baby during pregnancy.
Regular examinations during pregnancy care
The first visit to the gynecologist should take place no later than after the tenth week of pregnancy. If you found out about the wonderful news that you will become a mother from a pregnancy test, at the first meeting the doctor will be able to confirm this news and check whether the pregnancy is developing properly.
Subsequent follow-up visits, if everything goes well and there are no complications, usually take place once a month. Even if you feel well and do not notice any disturbing signals, you should keep to the deadlines and not skip any appointments. Routine checkups increase the chances of having a healthy baby. Seek a gynecologist at the best pregnancy care hospital in Coimbatore
Listening to classical music
Already in the 1950s, experts from one of the universities in France discovered the positive effect of music on the development of a child. Dr. Alfred Tomatis proved that listening to classical music by pregnant women supports the nervous system of the fetus, stimulating the formation of new nerve connections.
Of course, if you haven’t been a fan of this kind of music before, don’t force yourself to listen to it – your little one will sense your irritation. Until they are five months old, the only sounds your baby reacts to are your heartbeat, and then it begins to recognize sounds from outside. He may even have his musical preferences – what kind of music he or she likes best depends on how your favorite tunes affect you.
If you feel relaxed and relaxed while listening to music, you can be sure that your toddler will love this type of music. If you want his musical experience to be more intense, you can put the headphones on his tummy and observe the baby’s reactions. Children who listen to gentle, melodious compositions in the womb learn to speak faster.
How to take care of a baby in the belly? Conversation with the tummy
After the fifth month of pregnancy, when your baby begins to recognize outside sounds, it won’t be weird talking to the belly. The baby will hear your voice and react to everyday stories. You can start reading him fairy tales or just telling him about the world that he will soon get to know in person. Such conversations are the perfect way to build a bond with the child and introduce him to the environment and family members.
How to avoid stress during pregnancy care?
The baby can sense all the emotions you feel during pregnancy. Nervousness, stress, and a feeling of irritability can negatively affect a child’s development. During stressful situations, your body’s level of cortisol rises – a stress hormone that can cause early delivery or even detachment of the placenta.
During pregnancy, thanks to a hormone storm, you are more sensitive and you approach everyday situations more emotionally. This is perfectly normal, but be sure to react in time when you start to feel nervous. Then sit back, take a few deep breaths and think about something pleasant. Remember that you and your child are the most important now – cleaning the apartment, visiting friends, or other duties, can wait. Spend as much time as possible indulging in small pleasures and your little one will surely appreciate it.
Get enough sleep
Sleeping through the night is quite a challenge for pregnant women – a growing tummy, frequent visits to the toilet, and the feeling of heartburn do not help to fall asleep. Even so, you should make every effort to ensure that your body gets enough sleep. If this is not possible at night, take some short naps during the day to help you recover.
Caring for a baby begins much earlier than after the baby is born. Already at the time of pregnancy planning, thanks to comprehensive examinations and an appropriate diet, you can take care of its proper development. The lifestyle you lead throughout your pregnancy will certainly have an impact on your baby’s health.
When does a baby’s brain begin to develop?
The brain is the most important organ in a baby’s body. Research shows that it is the best-nourished organ in the body – until the third month of pregnancy, its development absorbs as much as 70% of the energy that comes to the mother’s placenta thanks to food. Quite a lot, right? Well, no wonder – 70% of your brain cells are formed during pregnancy. So the vast majority – that’s why they need so much energy to produce them.
This means that the brain does its greatest “job” even before a baby is born. Therefore, it is important that during pregnancy you support him as much as possible during this important work – it will affect the further development of the baby (even after birth). In a moment I will tell you where to start.
However, for you to understand this better, I will first remind you of the existence and role of synapses. What exactly are they and what are they responsible for?
The moment a baby is born, his brain will be made up of approximately 100 billion nerve cells – neurons. And each of these neurons is going to produce thousands of tiny branches. The neurons will communicate with each other through synapses. It is a kind of “wiring” of the brain, which is the foundation for the next steps in a child’s development. It is formed during pregnancy and in the first years of a child’s life.
Can you exercise while pregnant?
“Save yourself!”, “Now you have to lie down.” , “What? Are you hungry for fitness now? Sit on your butt, you’re pregnant! ” – Do you think there are many pregnant women who hear the same advice when they want to move around, attend a mom’s fitness club or just “leg swing” at home?
In my experience, it’s too much. Many mothers-to-be give up physical activity without anyone’s persuasion – for fear for their child’s health. However, are these fears justified?
Not. We are not talking about heavy lifting in the gym. But walks, light exercise, and fitness for pregnant women are most appropriate.
The American Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women exercise at least 3 times a week for about 30 minutes. On the other hand, the WHO recommendation sounds similar – all pregnant women (without medical contraindications) should perform aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercises at least 150 minutes a week.
As far as you are concerned, these will be – improved condition, better sleep, better well-being, easier maintenance of healthy body weight, and a lower risk of gestational diabetes.
What are the benefits of physical activity for your little one?
As you exercise, you change positions – your child also changes positions. Every movement stimulates his vestibular system. Additionally, the research available at the US National Library of the National Institutes of Health – “Mothers’ physical activity and cognitive functions of their offspring” and “Vestibular activity and cognitive development in children”. Moreover, children of women who were physically active may be more physically fit and have a higher IQ.
How to plan during pregnancy period?
Many pregnant women try to meticulously plan each month, delivery, and postpartum time – only natural delivery, or only cesarean, and immediately breastfeeding after delivery or just bottled milk. These are dreams and plans that life often verifies.
Perhaps you do too. The vision of labor can be stressful, especially if it’s your first pregnancy. That’s why you make plans and want to know what to prepare for. I understand you perfectly. On the one hand, the thought that you have everything planned and under control allows you to at least partially releasing this stress.
However, on the other hand. What if the scenario you have prepared for won’t take place in real life? What if your baby decides to be born a little earlier than you expect? Or what if, despite your will, you will not be able to give birth naturally, because such indications will be and so will the doctor decide?
Think about it, is it not going to cause even more stress? Just the fact that things didn’t go your way and you have to do something you didn’t even consider? I know from experience that this can happen.
That’s why I want to give you some valuable advice – be open to all options. Accept for yourself that you don’t control everything. And that’s okay. Give it approval. Take the pressure off you, it has to be as planned. Thanks to this, both you and your baby will avoid unnecessary stress. Don’t worry about things beyond your control. Whatever the case – any scenario will be okay.
Okay, you may not be able to influence the issues described above. But there are several other things you can influence. Moreover, a lot depends on them. And I will tell you about them later in the article.
When does a baby’s brain begin to develop?
The brain is the most important organ in a baby’s body. Research shows that it is the best-nourished organ in the body – until the third month of pregnancy, its development absorbs as much as 70% of the energy that comes to the mother’s placenta thanks to food. Quite a lot, right? Well, no wonder – 70% of your brain cells are formed during pregnancy. So the vast majority – that’s why they need so much energy to produce them.
This means that the brain does its greatest “job” even before a baby is born. Therefore, it is important that during pregnancy you support him as much as possible during this important work – it will affect the further development of the baby (even after birth). In a moment I will tell you where to start.
However, for you to understand this better, I will first remind you of the existence and role of synapses. What exactly are they and what are they responsible for?
The moment a baby is born, his brain will be made up of approximately 100 billion nerve cells – neurons. And each of these neurons is going to produce thousands of tiny branches. The neurons will communicate with each other through synapses. It is a kind of “wiring” of the brain, which is the foundation for the next steps in a child’s development. It is formed during pregnancy and in the first years of a child’s life.
If you already know me, you know that I have always been saying – the more neurons and synapses, the greater the potential of a toddler’s brain – the easier it is to learn to write, read, intelligence, and much, much more. So it is worth making efforts to produce as many of them as possible. How can you do this? Among other things, through Movement!
However, I often encounter the fact that opinions on this topic are divided. Exercise during pregnancy or give it a rest? How is it in the end? You will find out in a moment.
Can you exercise while pregnant?
“Save yourself!”, “Now you have to lie down.” , “What? Are you hungry for fitness now? Sit on your butt, you’re pregnant! ” – how many women do you think to hear similar advice when they are pregnant and want to move around a bit, go to a mom’s fitness club, or just “leg swing” at home?
In my experience, it’s too much. Many mothers-to-be give up physical activity without anyone’s persuasion – for fear for their child’s health. However, are these fears justified?
Not. We are not talking about heavy lifting in the gym. But walks, light exercise, and fitness for pregnant women are most appropriate.
The American Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women exercise at least 3 times a week for about 30 minutes. On the other hand, the WHO recommendation sounds similar – all pregnant women (without medical contraindications) should perform aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercises at least 150 minutes a week.
For further information regarding pregnancy period baby’s care, you can reach out to the multispeciality hospital in Coimbatore