Getting pregnant and being healthy

1. There are many factors that contribute to a healthy pregnancy. Nowadays we know more and more about this and you can take this into account in the run-up to becoming pregnant and during the pregnancy itself. This way you can limit the health risks for yourself and your unborn baby. In this article you can read about those factors: what is allowed and what is not. Because it is better to know this in advance than that it causes stress during that special period.

Healthy into pregnancy

1. Whether you normally have a healthy lifestyle or not, when you are pregnant everything is suddenly different. The things that your body can normally handle just fine can now be harmful to you or your unborn baby. If you are planning to become pregnant, you may have already considered and adjusted your lifestyle before you were pregnant. If pregnancy comes as a surprise, now is the time to take a closer look at your lifestyle and make adjustments. Are you not pregnant yet, but planning to become one? Even then it is important to read what to take into account before and during pregnancy.

Questions about hereditary diseases and health

1. Do you have any questions in advance about hereditary diseases in your or your partner's family, your health or about becoming pregnant in your situation? Then visit your doctor. That way you know whether there are any risks associated with a pregnancy.

Medical checks

1. If you know that you are pregnant, you can arrange the first appointments with the doctor or midwife. You can schedule the first appointment between the sixth and tenth week.

Questions from the midwife

1. When you last had your period whether you are healthy whether there are certain illnesses in your family or those of your partner whether you have been pregnant before and how that went

Investigations

1. Measure blood pressure determine weight determine the size of the uterus hear the baby's heartbeat (possibly from the 12th week)

Blood tests

1. Anemia infectious disease (hepatitis B) venereal disease (lues) aids (with your permission) protection against rubella

Further checks

1. As the pregnancy progresses you will be checked more often. Once every four to six weeks at first, then every three weeks, later every two weeks and around the last month of pregnancy you will be checked every week.

Nutrition during pregnancy

1. Of course, healthy eating is always good for you, but during pregnancy it is extra important to get good nutrients. Not only can you make good use of the energy for pregnancy and childbirth, your unborn baby in particular needs everything necessary to grow healthily. Healthy nutrition is also not a problem for vegetarians, but make sure you get enough protein, vitamin B12 and calcium.

Which power supply do you need?

1. If you eat varied (write five) and enough, you will basically get everything you and your unborn baby need. There are two exceptions: Vitamin D and folic acid. You can take these substances as a supplement. If you do not get enough vitamins due to circumstances (for example nausea and vomiting), you can take a vitamin preparation especially for pregnant women. Iron in food is also important to combat anemia. If the iron level turns out to be too low when checked by the midwife, you can take an iron preparation.

What's better not to eat?

1. Raw or undercooked meat (toxoplasmosis) Raw milk products (Listeria bacteria) Vacuum-packed fish and meat products (listeria bacteria) Swordfish, zander, shark, mackerel and tuna (mercury and dioxins) The herbs: absinthe-alsam, aloe, tansy, borage (cucumber herb), ephedra, butterbur, kava kava, sassafras and comfrey Special drink or lubrication products with sterols and stanols, such as cholesterol-lowering margarine (unknown risk)

Eat in moderation

1. Oily fish: no more than 300 grams per week (dioxins) please note: fatty fish in moderation is healthy during your pregnancy

A healthy weight

1. Before you get pregnant, it is wise to bring your weight up to standard. A BMI between 19 and 25 is good. A healthy weight is conducive to the acceleration of the pregnancy, your fertility and the health of the future baby. Eating or snacking a lot during pregnancy is absolutely not recommended. Many women see gaining weight during pregnancy as an excuse to eat more than necessary. However, this increases the chance of an overweight baby and it also makes it more difficult to lose those pounds after delivery.

Sports

1. Excessive exercise can reduce fertility. Mind you, this applies to competitive athletes, dancers or people who train excessively. However, exercising in moderation during pregnancy is healthy. Important rules for exercising during pregnancy:

Alcohol

1. Alcohol has a very negative effect on your unborn baby. There is no healthy lower limit for drinking alcohol during pregnancy and it is therefore recommended not to drink alcohol at all (this also applies to the partner when becoming pregnant!). It is also better not to drink alcohol while breastfeeding. Would you like a drink now and then? Wait three hours per glass before breastfeeding.

Alcohol:

1. Reduces fertility is very harmful to the baby, even in small amounts affects the baby throughout pregnancy has negative effects on breastfeeding can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in larger quantities

Drugs

1. Drug use during pregnancy increases the risk of problems during pregnancy or birth. It can also seriously disrupt the development of a child before and after birth. If you want to become or are pregnant, you must stop drug use immediately. If this does not work, consult your doctor.

Drug use:

1. Increases risks during pregnancy or birth can even cause a permanent delay in the child until later in life affects the child's motor skills affects the intelligence of the child affects the child's behavior and emotions can cause physical abnormalities in the baby can in some cases make a baby addicted before birth

Smoking

1. Smoking is harmful, both before and during pregnancy. Smoking reduces fertility in both men and women. That is why it is important to stop smoking before you become pregnant (this applies to you and your partner!).

Smoking:

1. Increases the risk of miscarriage can cause premature birth (and thus a weaker child) can cause a lower birth weight in the baby has negative consequences for the development of the child increases the risk of cot death has negative effects on breastfeeding

Sex

1. Until the seventh month of pregnancy, sex is not a problem and can even help you prepare for labor (sex keeps your pelvis flexible and strong). Sex therefore has no negative effect on your health and the unborn baby during that period. Your baby is cut off from the outside world by a mucus plug and, moreover, safely packed in the membranes and amniotic fluid. Opinions are divided about sex in the eighth and ninth months. Because there is a chance that your amniotic fluid will break during this time, some doctors recommend that you do not have sex or have sex with a condom at this last stage (so that infections cannot develop should the amniotic fluid break). Keep in mind that a certain hormone in semen can trigger labor in the last period. All in all, sex in the first seven months is no problem, only at some point you will have to work out together (with a big belly) what is pleasant and what is not.

Stress

1. According to many studies and news reports, stress has negative effects on pregnancy and the health of mother and baby. Because pregnancy (and becoming a mother) is already stressful in itself, it is wise to keep the other stress factors to a minimum in advance. Issues such as relationship problems, overload or problems at work are best tackled by seeking help. A loving partner and environment can already compensate for a lot of stress, so report it to your environment if you experience stress and ask for help. A little stress during pregnancy is of course normal, but try to get a sense of when it gets too much for you. You can alleviate fear of the delivery and the period after it by preparing well for the delivery. It gives peace of mind and you can also enjoy your pregnancy more.

Medication and treatment

1. In principle, medication should be avoided during, before and after pregnancy (if you are breastfeeding). Of course this is not always possible. If you (or your partner) are on chronic medication, it is best to see your treating doctor / pharmacist if you would like to become pregnant. The doctor / pharmacist will examine the consequences of your condition and the medicines on the pregnancy and what options there are.

Working during pregnancy and high-risk professions

1. Continuing to work during your pregnancy does not necessarily cause problems, but that of course depends on your health during pregnancy and the type of work you do. It is important to know whether your work entails risks for becoming pregnant, pregnancy or breastfeeding. As soon as you know you are pregnant, you can notify your boss. This allows your boss to map out the risks and, if necessary, provide adapted work or other working conditions. By talking about this you can prevent health risks and absenteeism and keep working in a pleasant way.

Law and regulations

1. The following working conditions during pregnancy are prohibited by law:

Rights

1. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you are entitled to:

The following professions can be risky for a healthy pregnancy:

1. X-ray technician (radiation) Gardeners, especially rose growers (pesticides) Flight attendants and pilots (cosmic rays) Operating room personnel (anesthetic gases) Nurses in an oncology ward (cytostatics) Pharmacists or pharmacy assistants (cytostatics) Cat caretakers, veterinarian (assistants) (toxoplasma) Laboratory workers (toxoplasma, rubella virus, chemicals) Hairdressers, painters, personnel in a chemical laundry, a photo lab, the chemical industry, the paint industry, an isotope laboratory, printer or car repair company (chemicals) Daycare workers, kindergarten teachers and pediatric nurses (only if not vaccinated against rubella virus)

Harmful substances

1. Below you can read which substances are harmful or harmless to you during pregnancy.

Harmful

(Fairly) harmless

1. Hair coloring or perm (if you are still unsure, use natural Henna products) Sauna (do not go too long, it is not recommended later in pregnancy) Cleaning products (unless toxic by inhalation, check label and wear gloves when using) Water and air pollution (avoid too much exhaust fumes, ventilate well and do not drink tap water abroad) Tanning bed (don't go too long)