How to have a healthy and safe pregnancy

If you have decided to have a baby, the most important thing is that you take good care of yourself, so that both you and the baby are healthy in the future. Girls who get the right care and make the right decisions have a great chance of having healthy babies.

Prenatal care

If you discover that you are pregnant, see a doctor as soon as possible to begin receiving prenatal care (medical assistance during pregnancy). The sooner you start receiving medical assistance, the better the chances that both you and your baby will be healthy in the future.

If you can't afford to visit a doctor or pay for a clinic visit for prenatal care, there are social service organizations that can help you. Ask your parents, school counselor, or another trusted adult to assist you to discover resources in your community.

During your first visit, your doctor will ask you a host of questions, such as the date of your last period. In this way, you can calculate how long you have been pregnant and by what date you expect your baby.

Doctors calculate the length of pregnancy in weeks. Due date is an estimate, but most babies are born between 38 and 42 weeks after the first day of a woman's last menstrual period, or between 36 and 38 weeks after conception (when the sperm fertilizes the egg). Only a small percentage of women give birth on their estimated due date.

Pregnancy is divided into three phases, or trimesters. The first trimester runs from conception to the top of week 13. The second runs from week 14 to 26. The third runs from week 27 to the end of pregnancy.

Your doctor will examine you and perform a pelvic exam. Your doctor will also order blood tests, urine tests, and tests to check for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including testing for HIV, an increasingly common condition in adolescent girls. (Because some STDs can cause serious health problems in newborns, it is important to receive proper treatment to protect the baby.)

Your doctor will explain the physical and emotional changes you are likely to experience during pregnancy. She will also teach you to recognize the symptoms of possible problems (complications) during pregnancy. This is essential because adolescents are at greater risk of experiencing certain complications, such as suffering from anemia or hypertension and giving birth before their due date (premature delivery).

Your doctor will want you to start taking prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid, calcium, and iron right away. Your doctor can prescribe the vitamins or can recommend a brand that you can buy without a prescription. These minerals and vitamins help ensure the good health of the baby and the mother, in addition to preventing certain birth defects.

Ideally, you should visit your doctor once a month during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. Afterward, you should visit him every 2 weeks until week 36, and once a week from then until delivery. If you have a disease, such as diabetes, that requires careful monitoring during pregnancy, your doctor will likely want to see you more often.

During the consultations, your doctor will control your weight, blood pressure, and urine, in addition to measuring your abdomen to record the growth of the baby. When the baby's heartbeat can be heard with a special device, the doctor will listen to it every time you visit. Your doctor will likely also order other tests during pregnancy, such as an ultrasound, to make sure the baby is in perfect condition.

Also part of prenatal care is attending classes where pregnant women learn how to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery, as well as basic newborn care. These classes are likely to be held in hospitals, medical centers, schools, and universities in the area where you live.

If adults can find it difficult to talk to their doctor about their own body, this is even more difficult for adolescent girls. Your doctor's job is to help you have a healthy pregnancy and have a healthy baby ... and there's probably nothing a pregnant woman hasn't told you about. So don't be afraid to ask about everything you need to know.

Always be honest when your doctor asks you questions, even when they are embarrassing. Many of the topics your doctor wants to cover could affect your baby's health. Think of your doctor as someone who is not just a resource, but also a friend you can trust to talk about what's happening to you.

What changes can you expect in your body?

Pregnancy generates many physical changes. Here are some of the most common:

Breast growth

Enlargement of the breasts is one of the first signs of pregnancy and the breasts can continue to grow throughout the pregnancy. You may increase several bra sizes during the course of your pregnancy.

Changes in the skin

Don't be surprised if people tell you that your skin looks "radiant" when you're pregnant - pregnancy causes increased blood volume, which can make your cheeks a little rosier than usual. In addition, hormonal changes increase the secretion of the sebaceous glands, so your skin may appear brighter. For the same reason, acne is also common during pregnancy.

Among other changes that pregnancy hormones generated in the skin, there are yellowish or brownish spots that appear on the face, which are called melasma, and a dark line that goes from the navel to the pubis, which is known as linea nigra.

Also, moles or freckles that you had before pregnancy can become larger or darker. Even the areola, the world around the nipple, becomes darker. Stretch marks (thin pink or purple lines) may also appear on the abdomen, breasts, or thighs.

Except for the darkening of the areola, which is usually permanent, these skin changes will disappear after delivery.

Humor changes

It is very common to experience mood swings during pregnancy. Some young women may experience depression during pregnancy or after childbirth. If you have symptoms of depression, such as sadness, changes in sleep patterns, wishes to hurt yourself, or negative feelings about yourself or your life, consult your doctor for advice on starting treatment.

Pregnancy discomfort

Pregnancy can cause some bothersome side effects. These annoyances include the following:

• nausea and vomiting - especially during the primary months of pregnancy;

• swelling in the legs;

• varicose veins in the legs and in the area around the vaginal opening;

• hemorrhoids;

• heartburn and constipation;

• Back pain;

• tiredness and

• Sleeping problems.

If you suffer from one or more of these side effects, remember that you are not the only one. Ask your doctor for advice on how to manage these common problems.

If you're pregnant and have bleeding or pain, contact your doctor immediately, albeit you've got decided to terminate your pregnancy.

What you should avoid

If you smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs during pregnancy, both you and your baby are in danger of serious problems.

Alcohol

At present, doctors consider that it is not advisable to drink even a drop of alcohol during pregnancy. If you drink alcoholic beverages, you can harm the developing fetus and the baby is at risk for birth defects and mental problems.

To smoke

Smoking during pregnancy carries some of the following risks: stillbirth (when a baby dies inside the mother's womb), low birth weight (which increases the possibility of the baby having health problems), babies premature (babies born before 37 weeks), and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the sudden death, for no apparent reason, of a baby under one year of age.

Drugs

Using illegal drugs, such as cocaine or marijuana, during pregnancy can lead to miscarriages, premature births, and other health problems. Also, babies can be born with an addiction to certain drugs.

If you've got trouble quitting smoking, drinking alcohol, or using drugs, ask your doctor for help. You must consult your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy. This includes over-the-counter medicines, herbal supplements and preparations, and vitamins.

Unsafe sex

Talk to your doctor about having sex during pregnancy. If your doctor allows you to have sex during pregnancy, you should use a condom to avoid getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Because some STDs can lead to blindness, pneumonia, or meningitis in the newborn, it is important that you protect yourself and your baby.

How to take care of yourself during pregnancy

Feeding

Many young women worry about the way their bodies look and fear gaining weight during pregnancy. But this is not the time to cut calories or go on a diet, as you are feeding two people. Both you and your baby need certain nutrients for the baby to grow properly. Eating a variety of healthy foods, drinking enough water, and cutting down on high-fat, junk food will help keep you and your growing baby healthy.

Doctors often recommend adding about 300 calories each day to the diet to supply the growing fetus with adequate nutrition. Depending on how heavy you were before you got pregnant, you should gain between 25 to 35 pounds (11 to 15 kilos) during pregnancy, mostly during the last 6 months. Your doctor will advise you on this based on your particular situation.

Eating more fiber - 25 to 30 grams a day - and drinking enough water can help prevent common problems, such as constipation. Fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as whole-grain bread, cereals, or whole-wheat muffins, are good sources of fiber.

You need to avoid some foods and drinks during pregnancy, such as the following:

• some types of fish, such as swordfish, canned tuna, and other fish that may be high in mercury (your doctor can help you decide which fish to eat);

• foods with raw eggs, such as a "Caesar" type salad or mousse;

• raw or barely cooked meat and fish;

• processed meats, such as hot dogs or cold cuts;

• unpasteurized soft cheeses, such as feta, brie, blue, or goat cheese; Y

• unpasteurized milk, juice, or cider.

You may also want to limit your intake of artificial sweeteners and beverages with caffeine and artificial sweeteners.

Exercise

Exercising during pregnancy is good for your health as long as you do not have complications with the pregnancy and choose the appropriate activities. Doctors often recommend low-impact activities, such as walking, swimming, and yoga. In general, you should avoid physical contact sports and high-impact aerobic activities, which pose greater risks of injury. Also, doing work that involves heavy lifting is not recommended for women during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about what types of exercises are safe for you and your baby.

Dream

It is important to get plenty of rest during pregnancy. During the first months of pregnancy, try to get into the habit of sleeping on your side. As the pregnancy progresses, lying on your side, with your knees bent, will be the most comfortable position. In addition, it will facilitate the functioning of the heart, since the weight of the baby will not put any pressure on the vein that carries blood from the feet and legs back to the heart.

Some doctors specifically recommend that pregnant girls sleep on their left side. Because some of the main blood vessels are on the right side of the abdomen, lying on the left side helps keep the uterus from putting pressure on them. Ask your doctor for his recommendation. In most cases, the secret is to lie on either side to reduce pressure on the back.

Throughout your pregnancy, but particularly in the later stages, you will likely wake up frequently at night to go to the bathroom. While it is important to drink enough water during pregnancy, try to drink more during the day rather than at night. Go to the bathroom before bed. As your pregnancy progresses, you may find it difficult to find a comfortable position in bed. You can try putting pillows around and under your stomach, back, or legs to make yourself more comfortable.

Stress can also affect sleep. Perhaps you are worried about the health of the baby, about the delivery, or what it will be like to play this new role as a mother. All of these feelings are normal, but they can give you insomnia. Talk to your doctor if you've got trouble sleeping during pregnancy.

Emotional health

It is common for pregnant teens to experience a variety of emotions, such as fear, anger, guilt, confusion, and sadness. It may take you some time to adjust to the fact that you are having a baby. It is a huge change and it is natural for pregnant teens to wonder if they are ready to take on the responsibilities of becoming mothers.

A young woman's feelings often depend on how much support she receives from the baby's father, her family (and the baby's father's family), and her friends. The situation of each young person is different. Depending on your situation, you may need to seek more support from people who are not part of your family. It is important that you talk with those people who can support you, guide you, and help you share and put your feelings in order. Your school counselor or a nurse can guide you in finding the resources your community offers to help you.

In some cases, pregnant teens miscarry and lose the baby. This can be very sad and difficult for some to overcome, although it brings a sense of relief to others. It is important that you talk about these feelings and that you receive support from your friends and family; If this is not possible, go to counselors or teachers.

The school and the future

Some young women plan to raise their babies on their own. Sometimes grandparents or other family members help them. Some young women decide to give their baby up for adoption. These difficult decisions involve a great deal of courage and concern for the baby.

Young women who have finished high school will have greater opportunities to get a good job and to enjoy a more successful life. As much as possible, you should finish high school now rather than try to go back to school later. Ask your school counselor or trusted adult for information about what programs and classes the community offers for pregnant teens.

Some communities have support groups especially dedicated to teen parents. In some secondary schools, there are nurseries. Perhaps a family member or friend can take care of the baby while you are at school.

You can learn more about what will happen when you become a mother by reading books, taking classes, or checking out trusted parenting websites. Your pediatrician, parents, family members and other adults can guide you when you are pregnant and when you become a mother.