Planning For Pregnancy

Points to consider for a healthy pregnancy – your current one and those you may plan for in the future

Ideally, pregnancy planning should start before you conceive but some women may get pregnant quicker than anticipated, or the pregnancy may be a surprise.

If you haven’t considered lifestyle adaptions and changes prior to conceiving, make these as soon as you know you are pregnant. They help to safeguard your health and the development and wellbeing of your baby. Other practical planning aspects to consider are finances going forward, your maternity benefits with your medical scheme and prenatal healthcare.

Pregnancy also brings emotional change. The addition of a baby means a change in the family dynamic between you and your partner, new responsibilities if you are a single parent or a sibling for other children in the family.

Personalised Plan

Let’s take a closer look at important aspects for a healthy pregnancy and what you can do to give your baby the best start.

See your healthcare provider

If you haven’t yet seen your healthcare provider for a first consultation, you should do so now. It’s important to speak to them about any medication that you are taking for existing conditions and whether these are safe in pregnancy. Not all medications – both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) – are safe in pregnancy. Your healthcare provider may want to change your current prescription. Never stop taking your medication until you have discussed it with your doctor. Speak to your healthcare provider about getting the COVID-19 vaccine to reduce the risk of severe infection and/or death.

Shake up your diet

Eating a healthy diet is essential in pregnancy, to give your baby the right nutrients needed for growth and development. You’ll want to increase your intake of whole foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains and cut back on processed foods that may provide extra kilojoules, but without providing good nutrients. This doesn’t mean that you have to deprive yourself of treats throughout the pregnancy, but rather choose healthy options most of the time and treats occasionally.

Never diet or exercise to lose weight during pregnancy as this can impact on your baby’s development and baby may be born with a low birth weight. If you start your pregnancy overweight, speak to your healthcare provider about a healthy eating plan based on your personal situation.

Take folic acid

Folic acid or folate (vitamin B9) is found in leafy green vegetables, lentils (like chickpeas and black beans) and citrus fruits. Pregnant women need 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. Folic acid should be taken from the first trimester to reduce the risk for birth defects like spina bifida, a defect in spinal cord development and other neural tube defects. These supplements are formulated for pregnant women and will contain folic acid at the correct dosage.

Stop drinking alcohol, smoking and using illicit drugs

No amount of alcohol or number of cigarettes smoked per day is considered safe in pregnancy. Vaping (e-cigarettes) are not considered safe in pregnancy as some products do still contain nicotine. While some products don’t contain nicotine, they are not considered risk-free as experts aren’t yet sure of the risks. If you smoke or vape, quitting is safest way to give your baby a healthy start. If you had a drink or smoked before you knew you were pregnant, it is unlikely to have caused harm, but you should tell your healthcare provider.

Take this recommendation seriously and stop using these substances immediately. Alcohol can harm your baby’s developing organs and brain. Both smoking and alcohol usage in pregnancy are linked to miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth (where baby is born before 37 weeks).

Using illicit drugs can result in miscarriage, stillbirth or cause serious birth defects for your baby. These defects may mean lifelong development and physical challenges for your child. If you need help to quit smoking, or to stop drinking or using drugs, reach out to your healthcare provider.

Put safety first

Not all foods, exercises and environmental situations are safe for pregnant moms. Here’s what to look out for:

• Foods

Never eat raw or undercooked meat and avoid raw eggs and unpasteurised dairy products. This can be a source of salmonella bacteria which can cause food poisoning (vomiting and diarrhoea). Avoid deli meats (ham, polony etc.) as these may be contaminated with listeria, a bacteria that can cause harm to an unborn baby. Avoid seafood that may have a high mercury content like shark or swordfish. Canned tuna is safe in moderation.

• Exercise

Exercise is advised for pregnant moms, to strengthen the body in preparation for labour and delivery. However, not all exercises or sports are safe to do while pregnant.  Avoid contact sports, or those sports where you can fall from a height. Swimming, walking, indoor cycling (stationary bike), prenatal aerobics and prenatal yoga are considered safe.

• Environmental

If your job is dangerous or poses a risk to your baby, your employer, must by law, offer alternative employment to safeguard your health and your baby’s health. You are not required by law to disclose your pregnancy to your employer in the early stages, but it is recommended, so if assessments need to be done on your working environment, that these can be completed and other alternatives arranged, if required.

Cats can be infected with a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, which can have serious health implications if a pregnant mom contracts it and passes the infection to her unborn baby. The parasite is transmitted in the cat’s faeces (poo). Transmission is rare, but as a safety precaution, rather have someone else take on the litterbox duties for your cat while you are pregnancy. There is no need to give your cat up for adoption.

Don’t use private hot tubs or saunas during pregnancy. A warm bath is fine but a hot tub or sauna can increase your body temperature and this can be harmful for the baby. Definitely avoid public facilities which may be harbouring virus, bacteria and other pathogens which can cause illness.

Think health and finances

Contact your Medical Aid to find out if they provide any additional maternity benefits. Now is also the time to consider a revised household budget, to make provision for a baby savings fund for baby equipment and any medical shortfalls you may have. Check your employment contract for information about maternity leave and how this is paid. If your company doesn’t cover your full salary, you can apply for UIF benefits once you go on maternity leave. The benefit is paid for 17 weeks.

Reach out for emotional support

If yours is a surprise pregnancy or you are concerned about your health, your baby’s health or feel anxious about any aspect of your pregnancy, sharing your feelings and concerns with your partner or a friend can help you make sense of these emotions.

Looking to the Future

After your baby’s birth, you may start thinking ahead to your next pregnancy. Pregnancy spacing gives your body a chance to recover before you get pregnant again. It’s an important consideration for your current baby and for a future one. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a birth spacing of 18 to 24 months.

Spacing between children gives you time to bond and nurture your new baby, as you spend quality time getting to know them, and allow other family members, including older children, a chance to adapt to changes in the family unit.

Birth spacing is also important to give your body time to heal and to replenish nutrient stores used in your current pregnancy, important for the health of the future baby. It also gives you time to return to your pre-pregnancy weight. If you gained excess weight in your pregnancy, follow a suitable eating plan after your postnatal healing or when you stop breastfeeding to lose the weight in a healthy manner. Plan to start your next pregnancy at your ideal weight.

Contact your healthcare provider for support, advice and counselling.

Resources:  https://www.webmd.com/; https://www.webmd.com/; https://www.cdc.gov/; https://www.healthline.com/; https://www.mayoclinic.org/; https://cchealth.org/; https://www.marchofdimes.org/; https://www.cdc.gov/; https://www.who.int/; https://mywage.co.za/; http://www.labour.gov.za/; https://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/; https://www.medicinenet.com/; https://www.tommys.org/