Prenatal Care Through Regular Monitoring And Examination A Must

Pregnancy is a condition which requires very close medical follow up for the mother and baby’s health. The count of pregnancy starts not with the date of a missed period but the day of last period. From there on, you carry on counting the weeks. Since the growth of baby is to be monitored and care for health of both needs to be taken, it is very important to know about pregnancy week by week.

Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. In the first one, the baby’s condition remains very critical and a lot of carefulness from the mother is expected. Folic acid should be consumed regularly in order to boost nerve growth of the baby. There can be chances of miscarriage which will show as blood. Any type of bleeding has to be reported immediately. A few food items are best avoided in these weeks like cheese, undercooked meat or eggs and oily fishes.

In the second trimester starting after 20 weeks, the mother becomes prone to gestational diabetes when the body fails to produce enough insulin. Some form of antenatal depression may also creep in during this period, which can be checked through medicines. The development of placenta is very important at this stage, and should be examined regularly. It determines proper growth of baby as it provides food supplements and air to the baby.

The last trimester is as sensitive as the first. This period is characterized by heavy weight gain due to higher fluid retention. Symptoms like excessive cramps and breathlessness along with feeling hot are common, but should be closely monitored. Care is to be taken that the newborn is not affected from the mother with Group B Streptococcus.