The term antenatal means ‘before birth’. Antenatal care is extremely important for the growth, development, and overall health of the unborn child, as well as the health and well-being of the mother to be. There are several areas of antenatal care to be taken into consideration

Preparing for a pregnancy

Couples need to ensure that they are healthy and fit before deciding to have children. The health of both the mom-to-be as well as the dad-to-be can determine the outcome of the baby they make together. Full physical check-ups are highly recommended so that any outstanding health issues may be detected and addressed early to prevent complications both to the parent or the future offspring. For many modern men and women, changes in lifestyle may be necessary at this point. These may include the quitting of smoking, alcohol consumption or even substance abuse. Along with that, couples trying for a baby should also consume a healthy diet and take vitamin supplements if necessary to close off any nutritional gaps. In addition to that, they should try to lead healthy, active lifestyles too.

Antenatal checkups (and screenings for health issues)

The first thing that needs to be done when a pregnancy is confirmed is to visit a doctor. A doctor will carry out an examination and check your pressure and the weight. At this first visit, you will be given information about:

• Folic acid and vitamin D supplements
• Nutrition, diet and food hygiene to prevent dangerous diseases
• Lifestyle factors that may affect your health or the health of your baby
• Antenatal screening tests, including screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia, infectious diseases and screening for Down’s syndrome

The doctor will also ask about any previous health or pregnancy issues, such as complications in pregnancy. It’s important to tell your doctor if:

• You’ve had any complications or infections in a previous pregnancy or delivery, such as pre-eclampsia or premature birth
• You’re currently on meds for a chronic disease, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
• You or anyone in your family have previously had a baby with an abnormality, such as spina bifida
• There’s a family history of an inherited disease
• You know that you or the baby’s father are a genetic carrier for an inherited condition such as sickle cell or thalassaemia

After the initial checkup, you will be given a schedule of regular appointments till you give birth. These visits are important for the doctor to review the progress of the pregnancy and make sure that the baby is healthy. Never miss any of these checkups for anything may change during the course of your pregnancy and your doctor will be able to detect if something is amiss and address it early. You might also be given important shots in the due course of the pregnancy to prevent the onset of certain diseases and disorders.

Diet

Your baby will be completely dependent on you for nutrition and what you consume will help determine the health of your pregnant body and also your precious baby. Therefore, a balanced and healthy diet is a must. Make it a point to include vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds in abundance together with protein-providing fish and meat. Avoid fried and possessed food as much as possible and keep intake of deserts to a decent minimum to keep access weight gain at bay. Spicy and oily foods may cause uncomfortable indigestion, so be wary of those too. Keeping your diet wholesome and keeping hydrated with lots of water will help ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Lifestyle

Along with a healthy diet it is equally important to follow a healthy lifestyle. This means taking care of the body by keeping fit and active. While we do not recommend that you join a boot camp at this point, there are many other safer ways to keep your body healthy and energetic. Walking, swimming and yoga are examples of exercises that will help pregnant women stay physically fit throughout their pregnancy. Exercise also keeps stress away and leads to better, more restful sleep too! Relaxing and pampering yourself is also a form of self-care during pregnancy so go ahead and book yourself a babymoon package before your little one gets here!