Pregnancy – taking care of your baby, body and mind
Stethoscope desk
If one were asked to picture a beautiful image of human interactions, what could be a better image than of a mother and child? The bond of a mother and her child, the beauty of this relationship is unmatched to any other relationship. When a lady conceives, not only a tiny human is to born, but a mother rises. Pregnancy is a very rewarding experience for a woman and everybody around.
At the same time, it becomes a responsibility of the whole family including the mother-to-be to follow some rules and regulations for the well-being of the child and maintain a safe passage through pregnancy. The following tips and reminders can help a mother cope pregnancy better.
Taking care of the carrier of the baby- the body and mind Women undergo a lot of changes during their pregnancies. As the body conceives and the fetus starts to grow, a large number of physical and hormonal changes occur in a mothers body. Hence, taking caring of the mothers body is important.
Additional to the need of the mother, it is more important that the fetus receives all the necessities for healthier growth. Expecting mothers should eat healthy whole foods and plenty of protein to keep their sugar level up. The meal portions should be small and frequent throughout the day. Fish, enriched with omega-3 fatty acids can be a great source of protein. The omega-3 fatty acid is crucial for development of the brain and normal functionality of it. A wide number of international studies show that eating fish during pregnancy improved the brain development of the baby.
Pregnant women often crave for junk foods but over consumption is a big No-No. Undercooked or raw protein, unpasteurized cheese, herbal tea etc. are extremely forbidden for the mothers-to-be. As the child grows, mothers have to carry more weight on their joints, calcium rich food and fruits can take care of this issue.
Drinking plenty of water is also important. If nausea of vomiting sensation occurs, the water can be taken with a moderate amount of sugar and a hint of salt. Instead of having caffeine (coffee, tea of other caffeinated food) mothers can try fresh fruits.
The natural sugar of the fruits can increase the energy level. Taking prenatal vitamin supplement can also help as they contain essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, folic acid etc. these help in the development of the brain and spinal cord of the child. Mothers should never consume any medicine without doctors supervision.
Resting is an essential part of a mothers daily routine. Adopting from a single long sleep cycle, mothers should adopt to take naps and breaks throughout the day.
Expecting mothers should stay active throughout the day. For specialized exercises they can do suitable stretches and yoga. The goal is to do enough but not overdo it. The clothing should be suitable for the growing womb and weather conditions. For the added weight and pressure on the joints, the shoes should be chosen wisely.
Tania Ahmed , a popular actress from Bangladesh, recently spoke about her experience of motherhood on a TV program Dettol Channel I Porichchonno Bangladesh powered by Harpic themed on early days of motherhood. She said, When I was pregnant, my family took care of my mental as well as physical well-being. For example, I liked to listen to songs, so I listened to a lot of songs. It has always kept me lively.
I had watched so many movies but they made sure I am not exposed to any violence which could cause negative impact on my child. She also said, During my pregnancy, I used to do outdoor shootings. I didnt stop working. Rather I took care of myself very carefully.
I had taken care of my health by eating meals timely as well. I tried to strictly follow my doctors instructions. Thats why I could work till the labor pain started.
She also said, When a woman conceives, everyone gives importance only to her physical health often neglecting her mental condition. A mother-to-be needs a healthy mind along with physical well-being. I think all the mother-to-be should take advice not only from a physician but also from a psychologist if required.
A proper mindset and support from loved ones during this time helps the mother-to-be tremendously. Keeping a journal would help note down the journey and provide emotional outlet for the mother, plus it would be a precious memory for the days to come. Popular psychotherapist Mohit Kamal also appeared in the TV program Dettol Channel I Porichchonno Bangladesh powered by Harpic along with Tania Ahmed.
In the discussion he remarked, When a mother-to-be faces negativity or if the pregnancy is unexpected, she might suffer from mental stress. But when it is planned, its easier to handle the pressure.
We call this pressure a psychological disposition which hampers her emotion and intellectual thinking and reduces her ability to solve problems. Now it is important to know that why the mother-to-be is terrified. It is because of many confusions- is it a boy or girl; will I/it be healthy or not; what will happen during the delivery etc. This fear is an anticipated anxiety. If she gets positive surroundings, she will think that pregnancy is natural thing and would embrace the pregnancy.
A husbands role in an expecting mothers life is very important. The first one to be informed of her pregnancy is her husband and his reaction towards it can change everything. She notices weather his husband is sad or hugging her with joy after hearing the news. I will tell my audience that if an expected woman tells her husband or her family or in-laws this news, please dont be saddened cause every woman notices carefully how everyone is responding to this news and it creates an impact on her. Please congratulate her and tell them how happy you are. Take care of her by maintaining cleanliness.
When a woman is terrified, worried or saddened, then there is a higher chance of creating a negative impact on her baby.
There are two catalysts- one is a mothers womb and another is the mothers surroundings. If a mother is terrified of any of these, then it definitely creates a negative impact on the babys weight and brain. It has been mentioned in Prothom Alo that, 95% babies are indirectly victims of smoking at their family. So, to reduce stress, it is important to maintain the hygiene by keeping the house smoke-free. If there is any unfortunate incident, it can create an impact on the mother. So, we have to ask the mother-to-be about her comfort zone and let her stay there.
He added, Nowadays our in-laws have become more supportive and the mother-to-be is more inclined to choose her in-laws as her comfort zone. Thus it can release her stress as a part of external environment monitoring. Worlds safest place is a mothers womb and a fetus is growing in there. If the mother is a victim of rubella disease or an alcoholic or a chain-smoker, then it can create internal pressure for a child. So, we have to do internal environment monitoring to reduce the childs pressure.
If a mother-to-be is terrified she can take some meditation as well with doctors consultancy. She can also use some relaxation strategies. There is no reason to think about the side effects. Just keep faith on your physician so that you can be more confident about your pregnancy and delivery. I hope these will help to reduce her pressure.
Children are the future of this world and our country. If we can ensure the physical and psychological health of the mother and the child, it will be a win-win for everyone- the parents, the child itself, the community and the world as a whole. Expecting mothers and the family should pay close attention to make this journey of bringing a new life to this world as a blessing and joyful phenomenon.
