How to have a healthy pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a sacred yet challenging journey for every woman. A healthy pregnancy not only gives the mother peace of mind but also lays the foundation for the baby's comprehensive development.

Breastfeed your baby exclusively for the first 6 months to supplement vitamin A for your baby. Photo: An Yen

Dr. Phan Thi Minh Y (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hoan My Dong Nai Hospital) said: Pregnancy care should start before pregnancy. Women should have a general health check-up, screen for underlying diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disease, cardiovascular disease and need to be vaccinated with important vaccines such as measles - mumps - rubella, flu, chickenpox, hepatitis B... At the same time, women should supplement folic acid at least 1-3 months before pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects in the fetus.

During pregnancy, regular prenatal check-ups play a particularly important role. The Ministry of Health recommends that pregnant women should have at least 8 check-ups, including 3 important milestones: before 12 weeks to determine gestational age; 22-24 weeks for morphological ultrasound and 32-36 weeks to assess fetal development. Screening tests for abnormalities, gestational diabetes or amniotic fluid testing all help detect abnormalities early and intervene promptly.

Nutrition during pregnancy directly affects the health of mother and baby. Pregnant women need to eat a variety of food groups, increasing 300-450kcal per day in the second and third trimesters. They should drink 2-2.5 liters of water per day; limit sweets and stimulants; supplement iron, calcium, and DHA according to the doctor's instructions.

In addition to diet, light exercise such as walking, prenatal yoga or swimming for about 30 minutes a day helps reduce back pain, improve circulation, limit constipation and reduce the risk of gestational diabetes. Pregnant women should avoid sports that can cause falls and follow instructions in case of abnormal signs such as threatened miscarriage, placenta previa or gestational hypertension.

During pregnancy, if there are signs such as vaginal bleeding, intermittent abdominal pain, decreased fetal movement, headache, blurred vision, leg swelling, high fever, amniotic fluid leakage or rupture, pregnant women need to go to a medical facility immediately, because these can be signs of dangerous complications such as preeclampsia, premature birth or stillbirth. Another important note is that pregnant women should not take medication during pregnancy without a doctor's prescription.

Peace

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202511/lam-the-nao-de-co-mot-thai-ky-khoe-manh-728243a/