GETTING READY TO HAVE A BABY: WHAT DO WE MEAN BY HEALTHY?
The best preparation for having a baby is to be as healthy as you possibly can! This is something you can start even before the pregnancy. If you are already healthy when you fall pregnant then your baby will be off to a good start. This is especially important during the first three months of pregnancy, which is the time when all the baby’s vital organ systems are developing. Some women may not even realise that they are pregnant during this early stage, so being healthy anyway is a bonus to the baby, as well as to the mother. During pregnancy, have routine check-ups.
What do we mean by healthy?
Your general health is very important during pregnancy, and special attention should be paid to good nutrition, adequate rest and moderate regular exercise.
Most things that a pregnant woman eats, drinks or breathes in will pass through her bloodstream, cross the placenta, and finally reach the baby. The baby is at increased risk of being harmed by exposure to certain substances. It is safest to avoid the following altogether during your pregnancy:
• smoking
• painkillers (such as paracetamol, aspirin, codeine)
• drugs of addiction (heroin, morphine, LSD, barbiturates, amphetamines).
Be careful about taking any medications while you are pregnant. Always check with your doctor.
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