- 16/July/2019
Healthy Pregnancy DOs - Ananthapuri Hospitals, Trivandrum
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1. DO BUCKLE UP PROPERLY Always wear a seatbelt with the diagonal strap across your body between your breast, and the lap belt over your upper thighs so that the straps lie above and below your bump, not over it. 2. DO STAY ACTIVE Sitting down a lot and being inactive is not healthy for you or your baby. Exercise 30 minutes a day, four times a week. 3. DO THINK BEFORE YOU EAT Have dairy products, legumes, eggs, fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. Also, take folic acid supplements after consulting a doctor. 4. DO TRACK YOUR BABY’S MOVEMENTS At around 24 weeks, your baby settles into a regular movement pattern. Monitor these movements and seek help if you notice any reductions. 5. DO GET A FLU VACCINATION Consult a doctor and take a flu vaccination. This vaccine will protect you and your developing fetus from harmful flu and ensure a safer pregnancy. 6. DO GET ADEQUATE SLEEP Pregnancy is a demanding phase of life. Take naps occasionally and get a minimum of 7-9 hours of sleep every day without fail. |
As a to-be mother, you would be interested to know how your baby is growing inside your womb. Scans can check your baby’s heartbeat, detect an ectopic pregnancy, find out the cause of any bleeding, and so on. Therefore, it is very important to go for regular checkups while you’re pregnant.
Different scans are performed across the three trimesters of pregnancy. Some important scans include:
- The earliest scan is done around 6-7 weeks of pregnancy, if there is a history of abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, to rule out ectopic pregnancy and miscarriages.
- The Dating scan and Down’s screening are done at 12 weeks of pregnancy.
- The anomaly scan is done during 20-22 weeks.
- Extra growth and doppler scans are done from 24 weeks onwards, every 2-4 weeks, depending on the uterine size, mother’s problems like preeclampsia, diabetes, placental location, and so on, to check for any abnormalities in the baby’s growth. It is also done in women with high Body Mass Index (BMI).
BMI is a guide to a healthy height and weight. During pregnancy, there are increased risks if your BMI is less than 18 or more than 30. Check your BMI and ensure that you maintain a healthy number.
Having said that, for those of you who are planning to get pregnant, schedule an appointment with a gynaecologist. The doctor will provide you with a preconception counselling. Your doctor will also check if the medications you use are pregnancy-safe, tell you when to get pregnant depending on your existing medical conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, kidney problem, hypertension, operated congenital heart disease and so on. They may test you for sexually transmitted diseases, make sure that all your health issues are properly managed and your body is ready for pregnancy.
Ananthapuri Hospital has a specialised team of gynaecologists and obstetricians at your service. Call us at +91 9400332777 or visit our hospital at Chacka, NH Bypass, Thiruvananthapuram.