The following suggestions or guidelines should be copied down by the expectant mother to be pasted on its bed-rest or any nearly convenient place.
She must follow them religiously for coming out victorious and unscathed through the travails or pregnancy!
Be regular in your visit to the doctor and don’t hide anything from him or her. Don’t feel shy about disclosing even your most intimate details.
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Tell your doctor any bleeding (hemorrhage) a backache, pains accompanying urination, excessive itching (pruritus) and such other ailments without delay.
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Avoid eating unedible items like clay, starch, plaster, brick powder in your urge to have extra calcium. Have regular calcium tablets or Banslochan etc.
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Don’t lift heavy loads or do anything requiring excessive exertion.
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Have at least eight hours sleep during the night and two hours during the daytime.
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Avoid taking fattening foods.
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Beware of constipation. Drink plenty of water.
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Eat liberal quantities of pulses, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Take these foods in moderate quantities but at least four or five times a day. Have less food more frequently rather than more food with lesser frequency.
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Whenever you feel tired, drop whatever you are doing and rest for sometime.
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Do the exercise as suggested earlier regularly. But never over-exert yourself.
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Develop the habit of sleeping on your back in a supine position with the legs supported at a little higher level than the rest of the body. In case you wish to sleep lying on your side, keep your upper leg resting on a cushion.
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Dress in loose-fitting clothes that don’t impede free movement.
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Wear only those brassieres that are well-fitting.
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Stop using any high heeled sandals or chapels.
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Avoid sexual intercourse during the last four weeks.
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Use only those medicines which are prescribed by your doctor. No more patent medicines.
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After the fourth month of pregnancy don’t ride bicycles or horses.
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Don’t consent to have any test or therapy did that involve exposure to x-rays.
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Have your bath preferably in a tub. Clean each part of your body thoroughly by scrubbing it well. Exercise care while moving in the bathroom to avoid any accidental slipping.
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Regularly clean the genitals with a stream of warm water.
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Avoid any food (from markets etc.) or any contact which might afflict you with any sort of infection.
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Try to keep your back as much erect as possible while sitting and not in a crouching position.
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Try to be cheerful and shun seeing horror movies. Indulge in those activities that ensure mental peace.
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Excessive perspiration at this stage is normal. Don’t be alarmed unless you feel short of breath with profuse perspiration.
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Use a soft brush for teeth cleaning and give extra attention to it. Brush your teeth twice and also massage your gums with even your finger movements.
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The moment labor sets input off your contact lenses if you wear them.
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Avoid long travels especially car-travels which are normally move bumpy. Railway journeys are okay but not after 7th or 8th month.
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Try to walk at your normal pace at least for half an hour in the morning and for an hour in the evening.
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Develop faith in God or in any existence which you worship with the reassuring feeling that the divine powers would see to it that all goes well.
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Be patient, composed and always try to maintain your equipoise.
