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Preparations for pregnancy should be holistic, covering all health-related frameworks: both the physical, mental and emotional spheres.
- Caring for a pregnant woman should start even before she becomes pregnant
- The better preparation for pregnancy, the lower the risk of complications and adverse events
- Pregnancy should be planned, wanted, and accepted
Kinga Kubel: What is the right time to start pregnancy planning?
Prof. dr hab. n. med. Mirosław Wielgoś, President of the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians: Planning a pregnancy is very important. Unfortunately, in our country many pregnancies are still unplanned. The better preparation for pregnancy, the lower the risk of complications and adverse events. The most important factor is folate supplementation, a deficiency of which is common in our population. Lack of proper supplementation increases the risk of open neural tube defects (spina bifida, skullcap, anencephaly). Taking folic acid should precede the conception by at least 4-6 weeks. But equally important is the so-called healthy lifestyle, which should be used a few months before conception – elimination of stimulants (nicotine, alcohol, intoxicants), proper diet and proper physical activity. It is equally important to change your chronic medication to one that will be safe for a baby developing in the womb. In the period of preparation for pregnancy, it is also worth taking care of supplementing vaccinations, if they have not been previously carried out – against rubella, against hepatitis B.
How should every woman begin to prepare her body for the arrival of a child into the world?
As important as the preparations described above are emotional and social preparation for having children. You just have to grow up for it, mature. Pregnancy should be planned, wanted, and accepted. A healthy mother has the best chance of having healthy offspring. And this health should always be taken care of.
The first three months of pregnancy are the most important stage in the development of a fetus. What physiological changes in the body should every mother pay special attention to?
In fact, the entire pregnancy is essential for the development of the fetus, and then for the development of a newborn, infant, child and, in the future, an adult. Its initial period is important because it is then that individual organs and systems are formed. Their abnormal development leads to a variety of birth defects and anatomical abnormalities. During this time, a number of physiological changes occur in the woman’s body as a consequence of the adaptation of the pregnant woman’s system to unusual conditions in which two separate organisms must live in symbiosis for several consecutive months. Virtually every system adapts to these different conditions – cardiovascular, hematopoietic, respiratory, digestive, urinary and endocrine systems. It is important at every stage of pregnancy to be able to distinguish harmless physiological changes from the initial symptoms of pathology, which is often not easy at all. All kinds of pain, bleeding and all the symptoms that significantly hinder the daily functioning of a pregnant woman are disturbing. In such a situation, it is always better to seek medical advice or specialist consultation.
During the puerperium (6-8 weeks after giving birth), the mother’s body undergoes two changes. On the one hand, there are processes aimed at returning to the state from before pregnancy, and on the other hand, those preparing for the role of mother and breastfeeding. What can a woman expect then?
The period of puerperium is as important as pregnancy and childbirth. During it, a number of complications that are dangerous for the health and life of obstetricians may occur. In such a case, attention should be paid to the proper healing of postpartum wounds (perineal incision, caesarean section), contraction of the uterine muscle, bleeding from the genital tract, and puerperal excrements. At the same time, in the early postpartum period, the lactation process is initiated, which not every woman is able to cope with without adequate support. Food retention should be prevented, and if it does occur, more serious complications, such as a breast abscess, may occur. The postpartum period is also an increased risk of thrombotic complications – especially in women predisposed to such conditions. Therefore, in the postpartum period, it is necessary to exercise particular caution – through the supervision of a gynecologist, community midwife and self-observation. In case of any doubts, it is most sensible to seek specialist consultation.