Pregnancy
...til they have missed a second period before consulting their doctor. Once the doctor has confirmed the pregnancy, a program of prenatal (before birth) care will prescribed for the mother-to-be. Prenatal care consists chiefly of making sure that nothing goes wrong with this completely normal and natural process. In other words, there are no complications. Good nutrition is especially important during pregnancy. The body's requirements for calcium and phosphorus, two essential minerals in food, almost double, and there is an increase in the demand for iron and many other elements. Gradual caloric increases are not only allowed, but they are advisable, provided that the additional food does not consist of empty calories, such as excess starches and sugars. Fresh fruits and vegetables and appropriate amounts of high-protein, low-fat food are all good choices. Usually, if the woman was consumming 2,000 calories before pregnancy with no weight gain, she should raise her intake to 2,200 calories in early pregnancy, she may be advised to increase it to 2,600 calories by the later stages. If the baby's weight is included, most women should gain approximately 23 to 26 extra pounds by the ninth month. This additional weight puts more stress on the back and on the legs, sometimes resulting in such problems as sway back and varicose veins in the legs. These conditions can be eased by getting proper rest and exercise and by wearing special hosiery to prevent varicose veins. Once the initial period of nausea and vomiting is over, many women increase their caloric intake too much, sometimes in a mistaken attempt to "make up for what the baby is taking." As a consequence, they experience a drastic gain page 2 in weight. At the other extreme are those mothers who cannot eat normally because nausea persists throughout the pregnancy. In each of these cases, both the mother and fetus may suffer. If any sudden weight gain or loss is experience, a physician should be informed. Due to either rapid weight gain of inadequate kidney function, some women experience significant swelling in the ankles and lower legs and, to a lesser extent, in the hands and fingers. Under no circumstances, should nonprescription diuretics be taken for this condition. The doctor should be consulted. Proper rest and exercise are important throughout pregnancy. In general, a woman can participate in most, if not all, of the activities and sports she was taking part in before her pregnancy. Her doctor can advise her about any limitations she should have. Many substances and organisms have been found to affect the development and survival of the fetus. It is estimated that 20 percent of all birth defects are directly related to environmental factors such as drugs, viruses, and vitamin deficiencies. Another 60 percent are caused by the interaction of an environmental factor and an inherited predisposition. So, it is important for every woman who is contemplating pregnancy or is already pregnant to beware of the possible hazards to which her baby may be vulnerable. One of the most important aspects of prenatal care is safety in the use of medications and the ingestion of nonfood substances. A pregnant woman, or one who even suspects she is pregnant, should never take a medication without her doctor's recommendation or approval. This caution includes over-the-counter preparations, even asprin, as well as perscription drugs. In addition, a woman should not smoke during pregnancy, and she should limit, or even completely stop consumption of alcoholic beverages. Smoking has page 3 been linked to miscarriage, low birth weight, and prematurity. Alcohol, has been linked to miscarriage and studies have been shown that alcohol can affect the brain of the fetus also. Products containing caffeine should probably also be limited. The best guidelin...