PRENATAL CARE
Name
Institution
Course
Date
Q1.I have been told not to smoke during my pregnancy, but I have cut to only like two or three cigarettes a day. What harm can that do?
Smoking during pregnancy has been linked to severe mental instabilities such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia later in the child’s life. Research recently conducted on connecting smoking with retardation confirmed that fifty per of the women who smoke during pregnancy are likely to have mentally challenged children (Pereira et al., 2017). By smoking a single cigarette, you expose your developing fetus to Nicotine and other substances in cigarettes, which are the main causes of congenital disabilities and miscarriages.
Thirdly, Nicotine can also cause your unborn child to be born prematurely. In severe cases, smoking can cause death to your child because smoking has been linked to infant mortality. However, smoking is addictive, and quitting might be hard. I would advise you to use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products. Before using the products, discuss the risks and benefits with your gynecologist. I would also suggest that you join a support group that would help you develop strategies for coping with the urges.
Q2) my nurse mid-wife to continue a moderate exercise routine, but I’d rather just take it easy. I mean, I am going to gain weight anyway. What’s the point?
The pregnancy period can be both exciting and confusing at the same time for you; it is a unique season in your life. Regular exercise will help in maintaining both your mental and physical stability. Secondly, lack of exercise will trigger you to depression once you realize you are gaining excess weight and getting obese (Hayman et al., 2020). Equally, when you engage physically, you help your body tone its muscle. This will impact you mentally by building your self-esteem. The exercise will also help in reducing pain and prepare for exertion during childbirth. On the same note, daily physical activities will improve your posture and lower the risk of some discomfort, such as fatigue and backache.
A research confirmed recently that the hormonal system begins to transform the first trimester of pregnancy. The second and the last trimester are characterized by emotional stabilization and uncertainty of the oncoming delivery. Due to these physical appearance changes, your self-esteem may decrease, which may eventually cause depression. Therefore, regular exercise is very important for you; I advise you to join a support team that will encourage you to have a walk daily if you can not be in a position to join a gym.
Q3)I am in my first trimester and get queasy all the time.im thinking about skipping my prenatal vitamins until I start feeling better. What do you think?
It is normal for you to feel queasy during pregnancy, especially the first trimester. Most women experience nausea and vomit a lot during the first trimester. If you feel nausea, the prenatal vitamin might trigger more vomiting, so it is ok not to take the pill. However, one should take the pill even before getting pregnant. Each vitamin contains six hundred micrograms of folic acid. This is a vital part of your pregnancy nutrition but does not guarantee a balanced diet. If you skip the vitamin once in a while, do not take double the next time, it might make you sick or cause constipation. Remember, your baby depends on you for your nutritional wants, including a balanced diet. However, if you eat a balanced diet that supplies adequate minerals in your body, it will provide all your baby needs for development.
Q4)I am pregnant with my second child. I have been through this before. Why should I bother going to all those prenatal doctor’s office visits?
Prenatal visits are essential for both the unborn child and you. It is the keystone of a healthy pregnancy. The prenatal care ensures you and the baby is developing as you should. Secondly, the checkups will give you n opportunity to get answers to arising questions that may arise during pregnancy (Hartman, 2016). Thirdly, pregnancies develop differently, so does your body, so even though it’s your second pregnancy, you need the doctor’s advice on nutrition all through the gestation period.
REFERENCES
Hartman, S. (2016). The importance of antenatal partner support.
Hayman, M., Reaburn, P., Alley, S., Cannon, S., & Short, C. (2020). What exercise advice are women receiving from their healthcare practitioners during pregnancy?. Women and Birth, 33(4), e357-e362.
Pereira, P. P. D. S., Da Mata, F. A., Figueiredo, A. C. G., de Andrade, K. R. C., & Pereira, M. G. (2017). Maternal active smoking during pregnancy and low birth weight in the Americas: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nicotine & tobacco research, 19(5), 497-505.