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Preconception
and Prenatal
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Healthy Body makes a Healthy Baby!
Many families who are trying to have babies do not get the positive pregnancy test results until a few weeks or more after conception. In the first few weeks, the fetus is starting to develop and grow. The lifestyle choices made prior to pregnancy and in those first few weeks of pregnancy can have dramatic effects on the health of the baby. There are a few key factors that will affect the health of mother and baby that can be addressed before pregnancy occurs.
A healthy body weight before pregnancy sets the pattern for appropriate weight gain during pregnancy. Being overweight prior to pregnancy increases risk of gestational diabetes and poor pregnancy outcome. Being under-weight prior to pregnancy increases risk of infertility, anemia, and complications during childbirth. Folate, or folic acid (in pill form) needs to be consumed at least one month prior to pregnancy and during the first trimester to help prevent neural tube defects in the fetus. A daily supplement of 0.4 mg of folic acid is recommended. Physical activity prior to pregnancy will strengthen the mother's body to support fetal growth and help the mother to have a healthy body weight. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and substance use prior to pregnancy can cause damage to the fetus if those habits are continued during the pregnancy.
To educate the community about the importance of health before pregnancy, the Leeds, Grenville, Lanark District Health Unit is increasing public awareness on preconceptional health. Watch the local newspapers for articles on preconceptional health. Keep your ears tuned to the radio for messages about folic acid and preconceptional care.
Call the health unit at 1-800-660-5853 for information on planning for a healthy pregnancy.
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The
Pre-Pregnancy Visit: What you and Your Partner Need to Know!
One important way you can plan for a healthy pregnancy is by scheduling a pre-pregnancy visit with your health care provider.
Leading medical experts agree that the pre-pregnancy visit may be the single most important health care visit a woman can make to have a healthy baby!
A pre-pregnancy visit is a meeting between you and your partner and either a family practice doctor, an obstetrician/gynecologist, a nurse practitioner or a certified nurse midwife.
The pre-pregnancy visit gives your health care provider an opportunity to assess your health and that of your partner and to gather information about any medical conditions that could affect your pregnancy.
Make The Most Of Your Pre-Pregnancy Visit:
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When you call, don't be surprised if the person doesn't understand what you mean by a pre-pregnancy visit. Be clear and direct. Explain that you and your partner want to sit down with your provider to discuss how you can work together to prepare for a healthy pregnancy.
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Come prepared. Before you visit, write down any questions or concerns you or your partner may have and bring them along. Take along your family health histories, and records. Don't forget a pencil and paper to take notes.
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During the visit, don't be afraid to ask questions. Write down the answers. If you are confused, ask again. The more information you obtain now, the better prepared you and your partner will be
Call the health unit at 1-800-660-5853 for information on planning for a healthy pregnancy."adapted from Algoma Best Start"
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If I Can Get
Pregnant, Should I Be Making Healthy Choices Now?
50% of women do not plan their pregnancies. That means that women are often unaware they were pregnant for some time. Your lifestyle habits before pregnancy can affect the health of your future baby. Studies have shown that alcohol, tobacco, or drug use by the mother or father can harm the developing fetus, especially very early in pregnancy.
Women who smoke, drink alcohol (beer, wine, wine coolers, or hard liquor), or use drugs while pregnant may be at risk for having a miscarriage, a low-birth weight baby, or a baby with birth defects.
What is Low Birthweight?
Low birthweight is when a baby weighs 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams) or less at birth. Very low birthweight is a weight of 3 pounds, 5 ounces (1,500 grams) or less.
Why Should I Worry About Low Birthweight?
Some parents-to-be think they do not need to be concerned about low birth-weight, or that a low birthweight is even desirable. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Low Birthweight is a major contributor to infant death in the first year of life. Low-birthweight babies are more likely than babies of normal weight to have medical and developmental problems, such as anemia (not enough red blood cells), poor vision of blindness, and brain damage. A baby born with low birthweight may have learning difficulties and behavioral problems later in childhood.
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What Can I
Do?
Tobacco:
Cigarette smoking in the pre-pregnancy period can make you less fertile, making it harder for you to get pregnant. Smoking is especially dangerous during pregnancy. Each cigarette smoked by a pregnant woman denies the unborn baby of 20 minutes of the proper amount of oxygen needed by the baby to grow and develop. If you smoke, stop before you become pregnant. If you do not smoke, but are exposed to second hand smoke, try to eliminate or avoid the smoke.
Fathers-to-be who smoke also have an effect on a future baby. Smoking decreases sperm health and sperm count, making men who smoke less fertile. As well, second hand smoke in the home is very harmful to both the mother and the baby, even if the mom does not smoke herself.
Alcohol:
No one knows how much alcohol will put your baby at risk. The safest choice is to stop drinking before you try to conceive and during pregnancy.
Call the health unit at 1-800-660-5853 for information on planning for a healthy pregnancy.
Please complete a quiz on preconceptional health!
"adapted from Algoma Best Start"
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Avoiding
Environmental Hazards
If you are planning a pregnancy, it is a good idea for you and your partner to look at your environment, both at home and at work. You may need to take steps to avoid exposure to potentially harmful substances before you conceive.
If you are not sure whether a substance is harmful, ask your health care provider for advice, or call Mother Risk at 1-800-267-1373. Before your pre-pregnancy visits, think about substances at work or at home that might be dangerous. List any areas of concern.
Some Possible Sources of Exposure are:
Workplace
Toxic substances such as lead and mercury, some solvents and some insecticides can be harmful. Exposure to radiation can cause fertility problems in both women and men and can also cause birth defects. Ask your employer if your job exposes you to toxic substances, chemical, or radiation. If so, talk with your employer about how you can end or reduce your exposure.
Computer monitors:
Current research suggests that computer monitors (VDTs) are safe to use during pregnancy. To be on the safe side though, it is suggested that women take 5-minute breaks away from the screen every hour.
Home
Cleaning substances, lawn chemicals, paints, insecticides and pesticides are some of the possible hazards at home.
Hobbies:
Some hobbies can expose you to potentially harmful substances such as lacquer, paint thinners, paint and varnish removers, cleaning solvents, lead, plastics, and adhesives. Although it's not known for sure whether the mother's exposure to these substances can harm the fetus, it is wise to avoid them whenever possible before and during pregnancy. Reduce your risk by wearing rubber gloves and working in a well-ventilated area.
Call the health unit at 1-800-660-5853 for information on planning for a healthy pregnancy.
"adapted from Algoma Best Start"
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Folic
Acid: Good News For Mothers and Babies
A varied, balanced diet provides many vitamins and minerals, but there is one vitamin, folic acid, that is especially important. Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps protect your future baby against birth defects of the spine and brain, such as spina bifida (open spine). The discovery of folic acid's protective properties means good news for you and your future baby.
All women who could become pregnant should consume a supplement with 0.4 mg of folic acid every day.
Folic acid is crucial in the weeks before pregnancy and the early weeks of pregnancy. If you are considering pregnancy, be sure to get at least 0.4 mg of folic acid every day, starting at least
2-3 months before you become pregnant.
Many foods contain folic acid, such as green leafy vegetables, beans, asparagus, citrus fruit, and whole grain foods.
Foods High in Folic Acid:
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green or yellow beans
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broccoli
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spinach
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brussel sprouts
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cauliflower
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orange juice
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cantaloupe
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strawberries
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asparagus
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peas
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bran cereal
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whole wheat bread
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wheat germ (toasted)
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Lentils
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pinto beans (cooked)
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kidney beans
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baked beans
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peanuts
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sunflower seeds |
However, the best way to make sure you are getting enough folic acid is by taking a multivitamin supplement each day.
"adapted from Algoma Best Start"
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Managing
Stress: Why It's Important
The pre-pregnancy period is the perfect time for you and your partner to look at your stress levels and to do whatever you can to reduce and manage stress before you get pregnant. Stress is a natural part of life. Sources of stress vary from person to person, and no two people react to stress in the same way.
Planning for a baby can be stressful in itself - for both of you. Now more than ever, it's important to manage stress well. Too much stress can put a strain on your relationships, with your partner and with others just when you need them the most. A healthy relationship involved hard work, good communication, and listening to each other's concerns.
The way you deal with stress can influence your physical and emotional well being, which can in turn affect your unborn child. For example, if you react to stress by reaching for a cigarette or alcoholic beverage, you may increase your baby's risk of birth defects or other health problems. Learning how to relax, getting enough exercise, and eating well can help to fight the effects of stress on both you as well as your future baby.
Common Sources of Stress when planning a pregnancy:
Physical and emotional change as you plan for pregnancy. Are we both ready for a baby in our lives? What changes will we have to make in our day to day lives?
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How will our relationships with each other, relatives, friends and co-workers?
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How will we deal with pressures at work? Too much work, physically tiring work, or scheduling conflicts between home and work
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How do we avoid demanding too much of ourselves? Trying to do too much and trying to do it all perfectly, at work and at home.
Call the health unit at 1-800-660-5853 for information on planning for a healthy pregnancy.
"adapted from Algoma Best Start"
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