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Pregnancy Practices: Habits To Give Your Newborn The Best Start

Pregnancy Practices: Habits To Give Your Newborn The Best Start

<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Hello&comma; Moms-to-Be&excl; Welcome to this magical time in your life&period; As the miraculous development of your baby unfolds&comma; there are many habits you can adopt for the benefit of your baby&period; As you engage in them&comma; you&&num;8217&semi;ll find your own health improving as well&period; In this article&comma; we&&num;8217&semi;ll go through a step-by-step game plan for your exciting life as a pregnant woman&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Visiting a Maternal-fetal Medicine Specialist<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Seeing a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine &lpar;MFM&rpar; will set the stage for a safer pregnancy&period; The most common reason for an initial visit is being at risk for complications&period; A specialist in MFM can help protect your baby if you have the following conditions&colon;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<ul style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">&NewLine;<li>diabetes<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>high blood pressure<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>heart disease<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>thyroid disorder<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>gastrointestinal disease<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>kidney disease<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>infectious disease<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>pre-eclampsia &lpar;toxemia&rpar;<&sol;li>&NewLine;<&sol;ul>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Even if you don&&num;8217&semi;t have any of the above conditions&comma; the following medical histories warrant seeing an MFM&colon;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<ul style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">&NewLine;<li>multiple pregnancy &lpar;twins&comma; triplets&comma; or more&rpar;<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>suspected fetal growth restriction &lpar;your baby isn&&num;8217&semi;t growing properly&rpar;<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>recurrent pregnancy loss<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>previous pregnancy complications<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>suspicion for possible birth defects<&sol;li>&NewLine;<&sol;ul>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Dr&period; Gilbert Webb in St&period; Louis describes how evaluation by an MFM specialist typically involves a specialized ultrasound&comma; amniocentesis&comma; fetal MRI&comma; and fetal echocardiogram&period; After diagnostic testing and consultation&comma; a treatment program is designed&period; This will include plans for delivery and newborn care&period; Obtaining early fetal intervention can prevent complications&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;"><img class&equals;"aligncenter size-Correct-Size wp-image-11698" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;medusamagazine&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2015&sol;01&sol;Pregnancy-Practices-Habits-to-Give-Your-Newborn-the-Best-Start-640x426&period;jpg" alt&equals;"Pregnancy Practices&colon; Habits To Give Your Newborn The Best Start" width&equals;"640" height&equals;"426" &sol;><&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Eating Healthy<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states there is no need to increase caloric intake during your first trimester&period; During your second trimester&comma; add 350 calories a day&period; During the third trimester&comma; increase to 450 calories a day&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">You should strongly consider taking prenatal vitamins&period; The Mayo Clinic&comma; a worldwide leader in medical care&comma; recommends vitamins to cover key nutrients that may be missed otherwise&period; A prenatal vitamin supplement should include these ingredients&colon;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<ul style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">&NewLine;<li>Folic acid &&num;8211&semi; protects against defects in the brain and spinal cord<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>Iron &&num;8211&semi; prevents anemia&comma; a condition where red blood cells are lacking<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>Omega-3 fatty acids &&num;8211&semi; promote brain development<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>Calcium and Vitamin D &&num;8211&semi; for bone growth<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>Vitamin C &&num;8211&semi; supports the immune system<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>Zinc &&num;8211&semi; important for fetal development<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>Copper &&num;8211&semi; protects against miscarriage<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>Vitamin B6 &&num;8211&semi; for hormonal support<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>Iodine &&num;8211&semi; for brain and nervous system development<&sol;li>&NewLine;<&sol;ul>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Choose prenatal supplements that have passed rigorous scrutiny by the US Pharmacopeia &lpar;USP&rpar;&period; This is a scientific&comma; nonprofit organization that sets high standards for the quality&comma; strength&comma; and purity of dietary supplements&period; Your obstetrician may also recommend a specific prenatal vitamin&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Exercising<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Exercise will benefit you and your baby in many ways&period; It reduces aches&comma; boosts mood&comma; and facilitates sleep&period; It prepares you for childbirth by strengthening your muscles and increasing endurance&period; It helps prevent and treat gestational diabetes&period; It can help ward off pre-eclampsia&period; This is a condition marked by high blood pressure and protein in urine&period; It is often accompanied by swelling in the hands&comma; legs&comma; and feet&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women exercise at least 30 minutes a day&comma; most days of the week&period; Speak with your obstetrician before starting an exercise program&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Scheduling Daily Down Time<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Reserve a block of time for relaxing each day&period; This can take the form of relaxation techniques or just doing something special that helps you unwind&period; Examples of relaxation techniques are deep breathing&comma; meditation&comma; mindfulness&comma; and guided imagery&period; You might also treat yourself to some down time by reading happy pregnancy quotes&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">By adopting the habits of regular visits with an MFM&comma; healthy eating&comma; and exercise&comma; you optimize the growth and development of your baby&period; For yourself&comma; make sure to sneak in a nap&comma; get adequate sleep&comma; and enjoy some daily down time&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;

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