According to the March of Dimes, a woman can take important steps to improve her chances of carrying her unborn baby to full term.
Pre-term birth is defined as a baby who is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Even at just a few weeks short of 40 weeks — a true full-term pregnancy — a baby could still face much higher odds of being born with serious health problems. These are some key points for an expectant mother to keep in mind, to help insure that her baby is not born prematurely:
- Avoid smoking, alcohol and illegal drugs during pregnancy
- Avoid drinking too much caffeine
- Eat a healthy diet, consuming lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and calcium-rich foods; avoid processed foods, many of which have a lot of artificial chemicals and low nutritional value
- Do not eat raw meat, raw fish, or raw cookie or cake dough
- See your doctor as soon as you suspect that you are pregnant, and keep all your prenatal care appointments, even when you think everything is fine. The doctor will be assessing your health, as well as that of your baby, to make sure both of you are well
- Talk to your health care provider about your weight, and ask how much you should gain while pregnant. Ideally, you will be at a healthy weight before you become pregnant
- Get treated for ongoing health conditions you may have, such as high blood pressure or diabetes
- Be extra-watchful of germs, which could harm your unborn child’s still-developing immune system. Wash hands with soap and water after using public restrooms (use tissue to close water faucets, turn door knobs, etc.); wash hands before eating; do not touch cat feces with your bare hands; practice safe sex if there’s any risk of you catching an STD from your partner
- Find ways to reduce stress in your life, which could include regular, low-impact exercise; reach out to friends and family, if you’re feeling overwhelmed
- Get help, if your partner is abusing you
- Find ways to reduce stress at work; these could include asking your boss for advice on how to do this, or reducing your work hours
- Get plenty of sleep every night (8 hours, though you might find yourself needing a little more sleep while you are pregnant)
Signs that you may be going into premature labor:
- Contractions occurring every 10 minutes or more often
- Vaginal discharge changes
- You feel pressure in your pelvic area, or a low, dull backache
- You feel cramps in your abdomen; these may (or may not) be accompanied with diarrhea
By Jamell Andrews