Prenatal Flyer
By Abby Abernathy
What is prenatal health?
- Prenatal health refers to the health of a pregnant women and her developing baby.
- In order to maintain the best prenatal health possible it is recommended for pregnant women to receive prenatal care. Prenatal care is a form of healthcare designed to maintain good prenatal health
- Obstetricians and Midwives both offer prenatal care.
- During prenatal care visits the doctor or midwife may run tests to make sure the fetus is developing properly, and is healthy. They may also discuss proper dietary habits, and proper lifestyle habits.
Why is prenatal care important to the mother and child?
- Prenatal care is important because it provides good prenatal health to mother and child.
- Prenatal care reduces the amount of complications in a pregnancy.
- It allows for prevention and early detection of problems with the mother or child. Many of these problems be treated if caught early or prevented all together.
What can happen if the mother does not have proper prenatal health?
- Studies have shown that women that didn't receive prenatal care were more likely to give birth prematurely.
- Women that don't receive prenatal care are three times more likely to have a child with a low birth weight.
- They are three times more likely to have a child with a health condition.
- They are five times more likely to have their child die than women that do receive prenatal care.
Proper Prenatal Diet and Nutrition
- It is important to eat healthy, and get the proper amount of nutrients while you are pregnant.
- Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and food rich in calcium are all good choices while you're pregnant.
- It's important to not eat to much food with saturated fat. You also should stay away from fish with high mercury levels such as swordfish, king mackerel, shark, and tilefish.
- It is recommended to drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.
- As for vitamins it is recommended to take daily prenatal vitamins. Most prenatal vitamins contain folic acid, iron, and calcium which is important during pregnancy.
- It's also important to get enough Vitamin D, DHA, and iodine.
Exercise During Pregnancy
- Many forms of exercise are safe during pregnancy. It can be very healthy to do during pregnancy as long as you don't overdo it.
- Walking, swimming, low impact aerobics, and stretching exercises, are all safe forms of exercise during pregnancy.
Does prenatal health stop after the baby is born?
- No, it does not. It's important to maintain a good prenatal health even after giving birth.
- It's important to follow up with a doctor or midwife after birth to make sure that you are recovering well, and the baby is healthy.
- If you are breast-feeding it's a good idea to continue to take prenatal vitamins and eat healthy. Breast-feeding gives the baby nutrients from the mother. Taking prenatal vitamins and eating healthy ensures that the mother remains healthy.
Sources
"What Is Prenatal Care? | Information for Pregnant Women." What Is Prenatal Care? | Information for Pregnant Women. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
"Prenatal Care." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
"Prenatal Care Is Important to Healthy Pregnancies." Www.acog.org. N.p., 21 Feb. 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
"Late or No Prenatal Care." Child Trends. N.p., 12 Feb. 2015. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
"Eating and Nutrition." Vitamins and Minerals during Pregnancy. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.
"Pregnancy and Exercise." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 23 Apr.
2015.
"When Do I Stop Taking Prenatal Vitamins?" LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 28 Jan. 2015. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.
Photo Credit
"Staying Healthy During Pregnancy." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Ed. Joseph. The Nemours Foundation, 01 Oct. 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
"Pregnancy - Health Diet Plans." Health Diet Plans. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
"The Colorado Health Report Card." The Colorado Health Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.
"Exercises During Pregnancy — LeanStop." LeanStop. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.
"Post-Partum Care San Antonio | Pregnancy Schertz | Women Partners in OB/GYN." Post-Partum Care San Antonio | Pregnancy Schertz | Women Partners in OB/GYN. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.