A Healthy Pregnancy Starts with You

Are you expecting a new addition to your family soon? The following tips spell out ways expectant mothers can improve the likelihood that they and their children will have a healthy future.

It's a Sign of the Times
Pregnancies generally follow a fairly standard timeframe of 40 weeks. During that time, it is important to get regular health care. Duc Le, M.D., OB/GYN on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, offers the following guidelines.

Four to five weeks after her last period, a woman who suspects that she is pregnant is encouraged to take a home pregnancy test. If it is positive, she may confirm the test in her health care professional's office. "Then, at six weeks comes the first prenatal visit," says Dr. Le. "At this point, the woman is given a full physical exam, including a Pap smear. Her medical history and family history are reviewed to screen for a high-risk pregnancy. An ultrasound examination is performed to confirm the location, gestational age and viability of the pregnancy."

From 10 to 30 weeks, Dr. Le recommends women visit their obstetrician every four weeks. The baby's heartbeat can usually be heard around 12 weeks. "Between 12 and 14 weeks, a test can detect an increased risk of Down Syndrome," Dr. Le says. "At around 20 weeks, we order an anatomy ultrasound to screen for fetal malformations. From 26 to 28 weeks, we check for gestational diabetes."

At 30 to 36 weeks, an expectant mother should visit her health care professional every two weeks. She will be checked for preterm labor and high blood pressure. Then, from 36 weeks until delivery, she should be seen by her health care professional weekly. "While the estimated due date marks 40 weeks from the last period," Dr. Le notes, "women can go into labor between 37 and 41 weeks. Between 40 and 42 weeks, labor is usually induced."

Forget About Eating for Two
One of the most common myths about pregnancy is that the expectant mother must eat for two. Actually, for the first two trimesters, pregnant women only need an additional 150 to 200 calories a day. In the third trimester, the additional caloric requirement increases to 300 calories each day.

Many pregnant women tend to eat in excess. The extra calories needed by the baby actually only amount to an extra cup of milk, or maybe a slice of bread and an apple each day. Besides being difficult to lose after the baby arrives, extra weight can lead to a more difficult delivery.

Dr. Le encourages pregnant women to make better food choices and to read food labels, rather than eating more food. "High-fiber, high-nutrient, low-calorie choices such as healthful dry cereals are good, because they help expectant mothers maintain weight and prevent constipation, a common problem during pregnancy," Dr. Le says. "Pregnant women should strive to consume 20 to 30 grams of fiber each day. They should also get 1,000 to 1,300 milligrams of calcium each day."

Consuming excessive mercury may harm an unborn baby's developing nervous system. Therefore, pregnant women should only eat up to 12 ounces (two average meals) per week of fish and shellfish that are low in mercury content, like shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon and catfish.

In addition, Dr. Le suggests women avoid eating large meals to meet their nutritional requirements. "Instead, eating several small meals throughout the day can help keep the blood sugar level constant," Dr. Le notes. "This can help prevent the nausea that pregnant women often experience. I also encourage women to drink one glass of water every hour and to choose water instead of fruit juice, which adds extra calories. Pregnant women dehydrate more easily, and that can lead to
preterm contractions."