How to prepare yourself for pregnancy and childbirth
Pregnancy and childbirth are major events in the lives of most women. Expectant mothers often have all sorts of fears, which need to be probed into and offered tips for safe pregnancy and childbirth. It is very important to bear in mind that pregnancy and childbirth are normal events and that usually there will be no major problems. One topic that should be discussed during pregnancy but is sometimes ignored is breast-feeding. So many mothers needlessly worry about the adequacy of breast milk and sometimes give some other milk unnecessarily resulting in problems. It is very important to understand during pregnancy itself that breast milk is the best gift a mother can give her child and that almost every mother will get enough breast milk for her baby. The production of breast milk is also a natural process and all that the mother needs to do is to be calm, believe that she will have enough milk and feed the baby on demand. A positive mental attitude goes a long way in ensuring adequate production of breast milk. It is unnecessary to give anything other than breast milk during the first four to six months of life. It may even be harmful by exposing the delicate baby to infections.
Every pregnant woman should examine her breasts to make sure that the nipples are normal and if she is not sure consult a doctor or a nurse. Quite often a woman discovers that she has retracted nipples after delivery while trying to breast feed. The normal nipple lengthens when stimulated so that the baby can keep the nipple well inside the mouth while sucking. If it is retracted then the baby will find it difficult to feed. This will add to the anxiety of the mother and may even lead to cessation of breast-feeding. Attempt to feed the baby with a nipple shield is not always satisfactory. Hence retracted nipples should always be corrected before delivery and breast examination is an important step in preparing for pregnancy and childbirth. This can be done by gently pulling the affected nipple out little by little everyday. If there is any doubt a doctor should be consulted. Any hereditary diseases in the families of parents should be brought to the notice of the pediatrician. For some diseases the diagnosis can be made before birth. The pediatrician can be ready with an action plan if he has prior information about such diseases. The pediatrician should also be informed of any disease in the mother and the drugs she is receiving. Can the developing baby in the mother’s womb be influenced by the psychological status of the mother? In today’s world mental health has become a casualty. All the inventions of science have not been able to give the much needed peace and joy. Science has its limitations and it is sensible to merge ancient wisdom with modern science. A developing baby is a part of the pregnant woman and it may not be wise to assume that the woman’s psychological condition has no influence whatsoever on the developing baby. It is a well-established fact that some diseases affecting the mother’s body can cause serious and even fatal complications in the developing baby. Some drugs administered to the pregnant woman can affect the baby in the womb. As the relationship between the body and the mind is a well-established fact, there is no point in assuming that the mental state of the mother does not influence the baby in the uterus. Hence a pregnant woman should be maintained in a state of sound mind.
Other members of the family have a very important role to play in this regard. They should make every effort to keep her happy. A pregnant woman should avoid reading novels or seeing movies, which agitate the mind. She should read books and articles about child care. She should also spend some time every day in spiritual activities like reading scriptures, praying, meditating and listening to devotional songs. All these can help in ensuring that pregnancy and childbirth will be normal. Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption are positively harmful to the developing fetus.
Preview and download hindu devotional songs
After delivery in most of the hospitals, a pediatrician examines every newborn baby to make sure that everything is normal. Majority of the newborn babies will be normal but mothers usually have many doubts and a pediatrician visits all newborns at least once daily to reassure mothers and explain the normal variations. With regular check ups during pregnancy and by taking adequate precautions most women can have normal pregnancy and childbirth. Return from pregnancy and childbirth to good family life
|
