To-be mums, it's time to focus on yourself now!

Knowledge partner

Preparing for the baby is not only important for your little one’s health, but also for your health. Remember that a happy and healthy mother makes a happy and healthy baby.

If your baby is healthy, it will make you happy. Now that you've learned all about planning and protecting the pregnancy, let’s focus more on you, the mom-to-be.

Be happy

It is observed that women feel vulnerable and anxious during the pregnancy and up to one year after the birth of baby.¹ You must understand that it is normal to feel that way.² If you feel low, here are a few things that may help your mental status, ³

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet
• Stop drinking/ smoking
• Do things that you enjoy and helps you to relax and enhance your mood
• Exercise
• Get regular sleep
• Talk about  your worries to someone or your healthcare professional

Rearrange your work calendar

Today women   are working shoulder-to-shoulder with their male counterparts. But pregnancy is one phase that can test your physical abilities.⁴ Don’t stretch your limits for your own and your baby’s safety. Whether your pregnancy is planned or unplanned, once you know about it, rearrange your work calendar.

• Take it easy in the first and third trimester
• Inform your boss once you enter the second trimester, and plan your maternity leave and work responsibilities accordingly
• Finish the most stressful and demanding work in the second trimester
• If traveling in rush hours is exhausting, request for a change in the working hours.

Antenatal classes

Pregnancy is a stressful phase and there are so many aspects that you are supposed to tackle. But antenatal classes are one place where you get reassurance and confidence that you can handle everything. Antenatal classes⁵ provide information about,

• Healthy diet
• Exercises to help in labor
• Process of labor and childbirth
• Coping with labor and pain
• Relaxation techniques
• Caring for your baby, including feeding
• Your health after childbirth
• Emotions and feelings during pregnancy

Continue reading on the next page!

Organize yourself

Pregnancy is the only time you can get to organize yourself. Make sure to use it wisely. Once the baby is born, most of your time may go in child care. So, don’t wait till the last few weeks to prepare and organize your house.

• Make space for the baby’s stuff
• Rearrange your belongings according to the post-delivery needs
• Get baby’s room prepared from aesthetic and safety point of view
• Arrange for help if you need it or discuss with your partner about baby caring schedule post-delivery

Indulge yourself

As you approach the term, you may begin to feel tired quickly. Take it easy. Remember that you have a more exhausting job waiting for you post-delivery. So,

• Take rest, sleep as much as you want
• Socialize
• Go for regular walks
• Spend some quality time with your spouse.

Be ready

Once you enter the ninth month, be alert. Don’t overlook any discomfort that you may feel. Keep your bag ready⁶ at least 2 weeks before due date with,

• Something loose and comfortable to wear during labour
• Sanitary napkins
• Wash bag with toothbrush, hairbrush, flannel, soap and other toiletries
• Towels
• Something to entertain yourself
• Clothes and nappies for the baby
• Shawl or blanket for the baby

[Images courtesy: Pixabay]

References:
1.Mental health problems and pregnancy, Pregnancy and baby. NHS choices. Retrieved from www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/mental-health-problems-pregnant.aspx.
2.Diana Carter, Xanthoula Kostaras. Psychiatric disorders in pregnancy. BCMJ, Vol. 47, No. 2, March 2005, page(s) 96-99. Retrieved from www.bcmj.org/article/psychiatric-disorders-pregnancy
3.Mental health in pregnancy, Problems and disorders, Health advice, Royal college of Psychiatrists. Retrieved from, www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/problemsdisorders/mentalhealthinpregnancy.aspx.
4.Work and pregnancy, Pregnancy and baby, health A-Z, NHS choices. Retrieved from www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/your-health-at-work-pregnant.aspx
5.Antenatal classes, Pregnancy and baby, Health A-Z,NHS choices. Retrieved from www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/antenatal-classes-pregnant.aspx.
6.Pack your bag for labor, pregnancy and baby, NHS choices. Retrieved from www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/pack-your-bag-for-birth.aspx