Health and Pregnancy

It is important to get specialist antenatal care from your doctor and midwife as soon as you find out you are pregnant, so make an appointment well in advance for your first visit.

Right away, it’s a good idea to start avoiding things that are not safe for your baby’s development. These include alcohol, certain medications, certain foods, and more. Ask about what’s safe and what’s not, and get advice from your doctor about what changes you should make.

Adopting healthy habits will help you and your baby to thrive. For example, start folic acid. Follow a nutritious diet, find friendly ways to exercise and ensure conditions for good sleep. Again, talk to your doctor about what’s right for you.
Make sure you eat right during pregnancy. You may need to adjust what you eat, how much you eat and how often.
You may find that sleep is difficult or uncomfortable, especially during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. Experts say sleeping on your left side is best for you and your baby in the last half of pregnancy. Pregnancy can affect your emotional health because hormonal changes are many and significant . You may experience events with increased emotionality, or feel moody or anxious. At least 1 in 10 pregnant women suffer from bouts of depression. Most women have 10 to 15 prenatal visits. Even if you feel well your doctor will check your baby with ultrasound, blood pressure and urine tests. Throughout the pregnancy you will have a series of tests to check your health and specialised tests on the foetus to rule out various anatomical and chromosomal abnormalities.
A few women have a complication in pregnancy and need special care and closer monitoring to ensure the best possible outcome