Prenatal care measures

The core of prenatal care has never been to follow a bunch of rigid rules of "must dos" and "not to do", but to focus on maternal and fetal safety, from the five directions of regular prenatal check-ups, nutrition and weight management, adjustment of daily activities, emotional counseling, pre-delivery preparation, and a dynamic care process that is personalized and adjusted based on one's own physical conditions and prenatal check-up indicators. There is no unified plan that applies to everyone.

Last week, I met two pregnant mothers with very different contrasts at the obstetrics clinic: one has been living strictly according to the "pregnancy taboo list" on the Internet since she was found out. She has to eat fruits when they are hot and won't touch hot pot and milk tea. As a result, she was found to be deficient in vitamin B at 24 weeks of pregnancy, and the corners of her mouth were so rotten that she couldn't even eat.； Another person felt that he was young and in good health, so he stayed up late every day to smoke skewers and drink iced Coke. As a result, he was hospitalized at 32 weeks due to frequent contractions, and he regretted it. In fact, both of these are extremes. Prenatal care really doesn’t have so many black and white rules.

Taking the diet that everyone is most concerned about as an example, the most controversial ones are "can I eat spicy food" and "can I drink coffee?" Elderly people always say that these two are "taboos during pregnancy" and will affect the child if touched. However, according to the latest version of the "Guidelines for Health Care Before and During Pregnancy", as long as the daily caffeine intake does not exceed 200mg - which is about the amount of a medium cup Americano or two ordinary lattes, there will be no impact on the mother and fetus. ； Spicy ones are more relaxed. As long as your stomach can tolerate it and you don't have hemorrhoids or constipation, it's perfectly fine to eat hot pot to satisfy your cravings occasionally. There's no need to hold it in until your mood is bad. Of course, if you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes or high blood pressure, you must keep your mouth shut about foods that are high in sugar, salt, and oil. You have to listen to your doctor on this. Don’t argue and say, “My friend is fine after eating it.” Individual differences are really bigger than you think.

As a side note on weight management, don’t believe in the old saying of “one person eats and two people make up for it”. I met a pregnant mother a few months ago. She was given chicken stew every day during the entire pregnancy. In the end, her weight increased by 62 pounds, and the baby’s estimated weight was 8 and a half pounds. After a cesarean section, the postoperative wound recovery was slower than others for a full week. In fact, the weight gain range for singleton mothers throughout pregnancy is very flexible: the normal weight before pregnancy can be controlled at 12.5-18kg, those who are thin before pregnancy can increase it to 18kg, and those who are fat before pregnancy are best controlled at 7-10kg. There is really no need to force it.

Oh, by the way, don’t be lazy and skip prenatal check-ups. It’s really not an IQ tax. In 2019, I met a 22-year-old mother who was pregnant with her first child. She felt that she was young and did not feel uncomfortable. She only had two B-ultrasounds during the entire pregnancy. It was only when she was about to come to the hospital for delivery at 38 weeks that she was found to have a severe congenital heart disease. In fact, large ovarian abnormalities can be detected at 20 weeks of pregnancy, which is a pity. There is also counting fetal movements. Many pregnant mothers find it troublesome and always think that it is enough to buy a fetal heart rate monitor to listen to at home. However, a normal fetal heart rate does not mean that the baby is not hypoxic. The fetal movement is the most direct signal sent by the baby to you: take an hour in the morning, noon and evening to lie down and count, and count once in a row. If there are 3-5 times an hour, it is normal. If it is suddenly more than half or less than usual, go to the hospital quickly, don't delay.

There is also a lot of controversy about whether you can move during pregnancy. The older generation always said that you should stay in bed to support the fetus, and moving too much will cause miscarriage. Now obstetricians encourage moderate exercise. I have seen a pregnant mother who was still doing pregnancy yoga with a trainer at 38 weeks of pregnancy. She gave birth naturally in only three hours and recovered very quickly. But this premise is that you don’t have high-risk factors such as placenta previa, threatened abortion, and cervical insufficiency. If the doctor has clearly told you to stay in bed to preserve the pregnancy, don’t force yourself to walk and climb stairs. Being obedient is better than anything else.

Another point that many people ignore is emotional care. In the past two years, I have encountered more and more pregnant mothers with prenatal anxiety. Some people often send me messages in the middle of the night saying that they can't sleep because they are afraid of pain during childbirth and are afraid that the child will be unhealthy. My family always says "you just think too much." This is not true. Hormones fluctuate greatly during pregnancy and emotional sensitivity is very normal. If you feel overwhelmed, you can chat with a friend, or go to the hospital's prenatal psychology clinic. Now many hospitals also support connecting with a doula in advance and entering the delivery room to see the environment. Once you are familiar with it in advance, you will feel confident, and you will not be so panicked. You really don't have to bear it.

Don’t just hoard your maternity bags. I’ve seen pregnant mothers take a whole 24-inch suitcase to the hospital, only to end up not using half of it, and finally bringing it back intact. The best way is to ask the hospital where you are going to give birth in advance for a delivery list. The hospital will provide many items such as maternity pads and newborn clothes, so there is no need to buy them yourself. There are only a few core things you need to bring: all prenatal check-up information, ID card and medical insurance card, your own soft-soled slippers, and your baby's small quilt. That's enough.

Oh, by the way, there is another question that many people are embarrassed to ask: Can I have sex during pregnancy? Many people think that it will hurt the baby and dare not touch it. In fact, the current academic consensus is very clear: pregnant mothers who do not have high-risk factors such as placenta previa, threatened abortion, threatened premature birth, after 12 weeks of pregnancy and before 36 weeks of pregnancy are completely fine without any psychological burden. Of course, if you feel uncomfortable, don’t force it, just do whatever makes you feel comfortable.

In fact, after all, there is really no standard answer to prenatal care. Your own physical feelings always come first. Don't be bound by the various "pregnancy must-dos" and "pregnancy taboos" on the Internet. If you have any questions, talk to your bedside doctor. After all, he is the person who knows your physical condition best. Just wait for the baby to report.