Take control of your pregnancy with smart planning and a healthy lifestyle.

 

Bringing a healthy baby into the world begins long before those anxious moments of labor. It even begins before conception. The ideal pregnancy begins several months before that, with both partners taking steps to ensure the probability of conceiving, having a normal pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby.

 

While more research indicates the importance of the father's health and lifestyle habits, the truth is that the mother's health matters most. Through regular checkups and good health habits, mothers can take control of the pregnancies for the better.

 

Before Conception
Before you even attempt to become pregnant, go to your doctor and get a physical. This checkup will screen out any maternal health problems or risks that need to be addressed.

 

At a typical visit, a physician will ask you about factors that may affect ovulation, conception or implantation of a fertilized egg, such as excessive exercise, eating disorders, being over- or underweight, personal or family history of infertility, endometriosis, thyroid problems, gynecological abnormalities, menstrual problems and birth control usage.

 

At this time, you will also be screened for chronic health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and asked about any medications that might negatively impact your pregnancy.

 

Adopting a healthy lifestyle before conception is very important. Smoking, poor diet, excessive caffeine and too much stress can affect female fertility, so get on the right track by discussing lifestyle issues with your physician. If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to one or two alcoholic drinks a week; eliminate drugs and tobacco completely. And remember-males should meet with a physician as well to discuss what factors influence their fertility.

 

Get Tested
As soon as you suspect you are pregnant, get tested. Prenatal care is essential to you baby's well-being, and the sooner you can begin, the better. During the first trimester is when the most rapid and essential development begins in the baby. To help your unborn baby develop properly, you will need to know the stages that the baby is going through and how your activities may assist your baby's development or how they can be damaging it. Once pregnant, a regimen of physician-approved exercise and healthy eating is in order.

 

Keep Exercising
If your body is used to regular exercise, it will help you maintain an active lifestyle during pregnancy and benefit you during labor. Labor, in terms of physical stress and oxygen consumption, is equal to jogging 12 miles. If your body is used to exerting this kind of energy it will be easier to do it when you are in labor.

 

Some women are worried about gaining too much weight during pregnancy. The average woman should gain anywhere from 25 to 35 pounds during her pregnancy. The best way to make sure you don't gain too much weight - that might remain after pregnancy - is to remain physically active throughout your pregnancy. Suggested activities include walking, swimming, riding a stationary bicycle and joining prenatal aerobics classes. If you eat reasonably, including around 300 extra calories per day for the unborn baby, then you should not worry about weight. It is important not to eat too little. Not only is it dangerous for the baby but it can trigger your body's famine response and make it more difficult to lose weight later.

Eating for Two
During pregnancy you'll need to take in at least 500 extra calories per day for the unborn baby. Not eating enough is dangerous for the baby, and could make it harder for you to lose weight after giving birth. A healthy diet during pregnancy is crucial. A balanced diet of proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains with a minimum of fats and sweets is what you will need. Talk to your physician about vitamin supplements. You'll definitely need 400 to 1,000 micrograms of folic acid (folate) per day to limit your baby's risk of having a neural tube defect.

 

Other B vitamins reduce birth defect risks, as well. As your fetus grows and uses your mineral supply to grow bones, extra calcium will help you prevent your own bone loss. Iron also helps both the mother and the baby carry oxygen in the blood.

 

While supplementation is important, remember that natural sources of vitamins are more easily absorbed and used by the body. Eating properly not only supplies you with the necessary ingredients to stay healthy, a healthy diet can prevent fatigue which is common during pregnancy.

 

Childbirth Education Classes
Childbirth Education Classes are available at Huron Hospital to help provide you and your baby with the best of care while you are pregnant. In the classes, you will learn about the physical development of your unborn child, and the physical and emotional changes you will undergo during pregnancy. You learn about the labor process, breathing exercises during labor, and the early care of a newborn.

During your stay at the Family Maternity Center, your nurse will reinforce what you learned about caring for your newborn infant. Before you leave the center, a nurse will address any concerns you may have and provide answers to any new questions.

To register for classes at Huron Hospital, call (216) 761-6922. Additional classes are offered at both Huron and Hillcrest hospitals. These courses can be found under birthing classes or by calling (440) 445-BABY or (440) 312-4647.