There is much more to pregnancy than just carrying a child. You are actually growing a whole new human being inside of you and will be completely responsible for this being until he/she is at least 18 years old. This is a whole lot of commitment and something that needs to be carefully considered. The truth is that getting pregnant sometimes just happens, however, it is best that you adequately prepare for this stage in your life and give it a lot of thought first.
There are many considerations you need to think about, such as the stability of your life. Do you have a committed partner and a safe home for your child? Are you prepared financially to take care of your child? Are you mentally ready to have such a huge responsibility? These are just a few of the difficult questions that both you and your partner must answer. You must also take time to consider if you want to bring a child into your relationship because it could completely change your relationship and life.
However, once you and your partner are ready to have a child, then the next thing you need to do is see your doctor. Pre-pregnancy health is extremely important since your body will be your childs home for the next 9 months. Therefore, you should start preparing your body for pregnancy, before you even start thinking about getting pregnant! This means that you should follow a healthy lifestyle by eating healthy and getting enough exercises every week. Then, when you visit a doctor, they will take a look at your previous medical history, do an overall physical test and do other various tests. These include a pap smear, pelvic exam, blood and urine tests. It is particularly important that you have a pre-pregnancy doctors visit if you suffer from any medical condition such as heart and kidney disease, diabetes, lupus, HIV/AIDS, are overweight or obese, have a history of eating disorders, are over 35 years old, have a history of miscarriages or premature births or have a risk of delivering a child with a birth defect or genetic disorder.
Once your doctor completes all the tests, then they will better be able to advise you based on your individual condition. However, if you are getting ready to become pregnant, then you will have to make certain lifestyle changes. One of the most important changes is that you should stop smoking, drinking alcohol, reduce stress or any other dangerous habit. If you use drugs or other mind altering substances, you will definitely have to completely stop using these as they can cause your future children to be born with birth defects and health issues.
It is important to note that pre-pregnancy health is not only important for women but also their male partners. The mans health is critical since any health issues can cause his sperm count to be low and affect the quality of his semen which can make it difficult for his female partner to get pregnant. This means that males will also have to adopt certain lifestyle changes such as stopping the use of tobacco and alcohol, steroids, illegal drugs and some prescription drugs. He will also need to stop using saunas, steam rooms or hot tubs and start eating a healthy and well balanced diet.
You will also need to have a specific health care provider when you do become pregnant who will monitor you and your childs health throughout your pregnancy. Therefore, feel free to interview various health professionals and gynecologists to ensure you find the right professional for you and your partner.
Once you do become pregnant, then you will be wondering, exactly what happens next! Pregnancy is divided into three parts: the first, second and third trimester. The first month of your pregnancy is the beginning of your first trimester. So, what can you expect? Well, the first month is relatively event-less, however, by the second month, you will start to experience some pregnancy symptoms.
The symptoms each woman experiences are quite different, so dont be alarmed if you dont develop morning sickness! The first symptoms you will probably experience are mood swings, irritability, the desire to nest, breast enlargement, swollen feet, food cravings, lack of focus and concentration, changes in the texture and growth of hair, nails and skin.
There are also a host of other negative symptoms such as constipation, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, cramps, feeling heated, itching, leaky nipples, backaches, cramps, bleeding gums, vaginal discharge, stretch marks, indigestion and heartburn, headaches, high blood pressure and more. As you can see, there are a lot of potential issues, but you can manage most of these once you take certain precautions and steps to avoid them or at least deal with them as they arise.
You can avoid any digestive issues by eating a healthy and balanced diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables. This will provide the fiber that your body needs and be sure to drink a lot of water. If you suffer from feeling faint, then always be sure to slowly get up when youve been sitting or lying down for any period of time and be sure to lay down once you do start feeling as though you may faint.
In order to manage physical discomforts such as feeling heated, be sure to wear loose and non-restrictive clothing that allows your skin to breathe. Also, if possible, you should have an air condition or fan in your home and regular baths will also help to keep you cool.
Besides managing your physical symptoms, you will also probably spend a lot of time and energy getting your house ready for your new child. However, don’t over work yourself or stress yourself out. Stress can negatively affect your child, so make sure to schedule a lot of free time so you can de-stress and focus on yourself.
In closing, being pregnant is a beautiful experience that will stay with you throughout your life. You should fully enjoy the experience and take a lot of pictures to show your child when they become older!
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