Healthy Pregnancy Wisdom
Pregnancy is more than just nine months; it is a
lifelong project that requires adequate preparation to ensure better results.
The Dos
Do physical checkup first
for both you and your partner. (why: to resolve all health
issues and problems, e.g. chronic diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy,
etc.).
Do blood tests to check
your immunity to German measles (why: it can cause
malformations in the baby) and chicken pox (why: immunization before
conception if you have not had it before); to check your antibodies
from toxoplasmosis (why: an infection that may affect
conception and pregnancy).
Do discuss medical conditions with
your doctor: previous pregnancy problems, such as miscarriage, stillbirth,
premature baby; genetic disorders in family; current prescribed medications.
Do dental checkup (why: gum
diseases may lead to premature birth), and dental work (why:
avoiding filling or extraction during pregnancy).
Do weight management (why:
overweight may lead to diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy;
underweight may result in a small baby, problems during labor, and after
birth).
Do find out your ideal weight: to
determine that, you need to know your height, and weight, as well
as your waist size (i.e. your waist circumference between your
rib cage and above your belly button). A waistline of 35 inches or more for
most women may indicate overweight.
Do find out your Body Mass Index (BMI),
which is a measure of your body fat based on your weight and height. Your BMI
is determined by this formula: BMI = (body weight in pounds) divided by (body
height in inches x body height in inches) multiplied by (703). To illustrate,
if you are 5’11” tall and you weigh 165 pounds, your BMI will be: (165/71x71) x
703 = 23 The BMI numbers have the following implications:
Any BMI that falls between 19 and 24.9 is
considered ideal and healthy.
Any BMI that is below 18.5 is considered
underweight.
Any BMI that ranges from 25 to 29.9 is considered
overweight; any BMI that is above 30 is considered obese.
You should be within 15 pounds of your ideal weight
before pregnancy, and that also applies to your partner (why: an overweight
partner may have decreased testosterone leading to depressed libido).
Do birth control until you are
ready for pregnancy. Hormonal contraception may take months for fertility to
return to normal. Natural family planning is the way to go.
Do boost nutrients for a healthy
pregnancy. Important nutrients include the following:
Calcium (why:
avoiding back and leg pain, insomnia, and
irritability)—eat figs and raw leeks.
Folic acid (why:
avoiding structural defects)—eat chives. Chives are a nutrient-dense food
low in calories but high in nutrients. Always use a sharp knife to cut chives (why:
avoid bruising the herb), and add chives to any dish near the end of cooking (why:
avoid losing its flavor).
Iron (why:
healthy growth of baby)—eat chives.
Magnesium (why:
cellular development; over-coming early pregnancy discomfort, such as
constipation)—eat chives.
Manganese (why:
baby’s normal skeletal development)—eat raw leeks.
Vitamin B6 (why:
avoiding nausea and morning sickness; metabolizing proteins, carbohydrates, and
fats)—eat raw leeks.
Vitamin C (why:
proper absorption of iron)—eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin K (why:
healthy bone growth and proper blood-clot formation)—eat raw leeks.
All the above nutrients and vitamins are especially
important not only for pre-pregnancy but also for the first trimester of
pregnancy
Do get sufficient sleep (why:
research has shown that the more sleep you get, the less time of
labor may ensue; getting less than 5 hours of sleep may even increase the
chance of having a C-section for delivery. Do set a schedule for your sleeping
hours to help your body get on a set schedule of sleep. Do go to bed earlier.
Do take herbs to increase fertility (why:
drink clover flower tea and nettle tea to increase female
fertility).
Do avoid unpasteurized milk and blue-veined
cheeses.
Do cook all your food thoroughly.
Do help your partner to enhance his
fertility. According to a Danish study, overweight men have fewer sperms.
According to State University of New York, placing laptop computers on laps may
decrease sperms (why: due to accumulation of heat). Certain drugs on
men’s hair loss, high blood pressure, and ulcers may also affect the quality of
sperms. Do increase his intake of folic acid, vitamin C, and zinc to enhance
the quality of sperms.
Stephen Lau
No comments:
Post a Comment