Accomplishing motherhood brings femininity to the perfection of a secure life
Motherhood brings femininity . A girl starts menstruating at the age of 12-13 years and one ovum matures every month since the onset of menstruation. These eggs usually come from the egg sac to the fallopian tubes between two months. If sexual intercourse occurs during this time, the male sperm travels through the vagina to the fallopian tubes. There the embryo is formed as a result of union with the ovum. This is called pregnancy. These embryos reach the uterus after a few days and grow up to be babies.
The health condition of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum is defined as maternal health. Maternal health is a directly connected factor with motherhood.
Pregnancy is one of the most important times in a woman’s life. Not only the woman but also how the life of her child will depend on this time.
Preparation to be a motherhood:
Nowadays everyone wants a smooth delivery. So you have to check up in advance.
- It’s necessary to be more careful if the expectant mother has high blood pressure, diabetes, or any kind of hormonal problems
- What is the blood type? If negative, check the fathers. Because there may be complications next time.
- Many families have abnormal hemoglobin traits, which are not understood in advance. If the hemoglobin in the blood is low, it can be seen a little. Because, if the husband’s family also has this problem, the unborn child will be at great risk.
- Hepatitis B should be screened and vaccinated if necessary. If the mother becomes pregnant then it can not be taken.
- The mother can start taking folic acid and zinc from the time the parents plan to have children. This greatly reduces the complexity.
- If the mother has excess weight, try to get rid of it beforehand.
- If there is anemia, fix it.
Motherhood: Signs or symptoms of pregnancy
A closer look at the following symptoms will show if a woman is pregnant. We have to keep in mind that a pregnant woman may not have all the symptoms at the same time.
1) Stopping menstruation. When a woman who can conceive has stopped menstruating, the first thing to think about is pregnancy.
2) Changes in the breasts: In the womb of the child different changes can be noticed in the breasts of women. For example, the breasts continue to grow in size, there is mild pain in the breasts, the arteries above the breasts become thick and clear, the size and shape of the nipples change, and the round skin around the nipples becomes dark brown or black, etc.
3) Frequent urination.
4) Change of taste in the mouth. Especially reluctance towards spicy food etc.
5) Nausea or vomiting when waking up.
6) Feeling tired.
Motherhood: Some tests to confirm pregnancy
If menstruation is regular, then a pregnancy test can be done with the first urine in the morning after 5-6 weeks by calculating from the first day of last menstruation. Blood tests also show that ‘beta HCG’ is pregnant. This test can tell if someone is pregnant a few days before menopause. Ultrasound examination of pregnancy shows the baby in the womb. For those who have regular menstrual periods, an ultrasound test from the 7th week onwards can confirm whether there is a child in the womb.
During pregnancy, the foremost priority is the mother’s sound health, both physically and mentally. A mother’s food habits, environment, and lifestyle are the most important things which create an impact on the baby inside the womb.
The total pregnancy phase can be divided into 3 steps known as the trimester. Each trimester has its importance and challenges. With each passing trimester, as the fetus develops and changes shape, the mother begins to experience physical and emotional changes during these steps.
Let’s know how to take care of the fetus and the pregnant mother in the different phases of pregnancy:
1st trimester
The duration of the first 13 weeks is known as the 1st trimester of the pregnancy period. Since the fetus is in its infancy, the mother must be much closer. But you can not be careful. Because in several cases mothers do not realize what is going on to them or what could happen. Many people do not have the right idea about their physical condition and do not know what can be good or bad for the child. So this first trimester of pregnancy can be detrimental to many, if not properly cared for. So the following discussion is about the first three months of pregnancy, the physical condition of mothers.
Changes in the fetus:
The baby’s brain starts to develop little by little in this phase. That’s why if there is a problem at this time, it can lead to a great danger later. In addition, the formation of the baby’s hands, feet, nose, and ears is also predicted in this first trimester.
Changes in the mother’s body:
Morning sickness is the most common change in a mother’s body.
- Dizziness
- Feeling tired
- Severe pain in limbs
- Feeling nauseous
- Unable to eat
- The increased urine
- G type Diabetes
What to do:
- Have a blood test according to the doctor’s instructions.
- Consult a physician immediately if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or hormonal problems.
- If anyone in the family has a genetic problem, do not delay consulting a doctor.
- The mother needs to do some light exercise.
2nd trimester
14th to 26th week period is known as the 2nd trimester of the pregnancy period. The second trimester is usually the easiest one, and most mothers take advantage of this and start preparing for the arrival of their little ones. This is the time when most mothers start to look expecting because their belly starts to get heavier.
Changes in the fetus:
By the end of the second trimester, the baby will weigh 1 kg. The baby may even start kicking. Even the baby will begin to see and hear. Brings a more controlled heartbeat instead of an uncontrolled heartbeat.
Changes in the mother’s body:
- Shortness of breath: Even small activities like walking can make the mother feel quite short of breath
- Abdominal pain due to expanding uterus and the ligaments around it.
- Around the 20th week, the mother will be able to feel some movement in her abdomen which is known as quickening.
- Leukorrhea: The whitish discharge in the second trimester of pregnancy is known as leukorrhea which is experienced by maximum women during pregnancy.
- Almost every pregnant woman experiences headaches.
What to do:
- The three most common problems during pregnancy are preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and high blood pressure. So, mothers should have to be careful about these.
- Pregnancy can be extremely tough, but doing some work out can help the mother a lot.
- Choose different vegetables for each day. Make sure the mother’s plate is always full of colorful food. In the second trimester, fruit is essential in the mother’s diet.
- Eat some oily fish once a week to get omega-3 which will help your baby develop the brain.
3rd trimester
From the 27th week to before the baby is born is known as the 3rd trimester. This is the last three months of pregnancy and this is the most important. This third trimester of pregnancy can be struggling for a woman both mentally and physically due to the final development of the fetus. In general, fetal development ends by the end of 36 weeks, and after that, the baby can be born at any time.
Changes in the fetus:
- By the time the mother enters the 32nd week of her pregnancy, the baby’s bones may be fully developed. The cartilage or soft bones of the fetus are transformed into fully formed bones.
- By the onset of the 32nd week of the pregnancy, the baby’s skin can be fully created, including hair growth and nail formation.
- The fetus’ touch sensitivity may develop in the 29th or 30th week of pregnancy. And, by 31 weeks, your unborn baby can begin to respond to a variety of sensations: light, taste, sound, smell, and sight.
- By the 36th week of pregnancy, the baby’s organs are fully evolved.
- Weight gaining is a rapid process in the third trimester. During this time the baby gains maximum weight. According to a study, a baby usually gets 2 pounds in the 28th week and 4 pounds in the 32nd week. By the end of pregnancy, or more precisely in the 40th week, the baby may weigh around 8–10 lbs.
- By the 36th week, the fetal head should be facing downwards. And, if after the ultrasound, your doctor tells the mother that it is not like that, the doctor can try his best to change the position or advise the mother to go through cesarean section surgery.
Changes in the mother’s body:
- Abdominal pain: The spherical ligaments that support the lower abdomen begin to expand to such an extent that you may experience severe excruciating abdominal pain. This expansion is due to the body adjusting to the growing baby. There is no way by which the mother can avoid this pain, so being patient and tolerant of the pain is the only way to get rid of it.
- Fatigue: In the third trimester of your pregnancy, you need to carry your weight with the growing weight of the baby. It can be difficult to manage and as a result, you may get tired from now on. This irritation can cause difficulty in sleeping.
- Back pain: When the mother carries her body and baby’s weight together, her back supports it. However, this can bring intense back pain. Back pain can be caused by excessive secretion of pregnancy hormones called “relaxin”.
- Going to the bathroom frequently: In your third trimester, even a slight sneeze can force you to pee in your pants. This is because the additional weight of the pelvic floor makes her work control compelling.
- Breastfeeding breasts: Your breasts may begin to store milk and this is a sign of the body that you are about to become a mother.
What to do:
- Ultrasound scan: The third-trimester ultrasound can be the same as the previous two trimesters. This test will help to know the position of the baby’s head and the progress of growth.
- Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring: This procedure is conducted to make sure that your baby’s heart rate is working properly with the mother’s heart rate.
- Lentils should be chosen as they are full of fiber and protein.
- Fruits such as guava, apple, orange, kiwi, or watermelon can be added to the routine diet plan to provide energy and essential vitamins to the mother.
- Dried fruits like walnuts, nuts, raisins, and even hazelnuts should be consumed as they are rich in vitamins and fiber.
- Eggs provide essential fats during pregnancy, but one thing to keep in mind is that only fully boiled eggs should be consumed.
- Plain yogurt is also an advised option for pregnant women, as it is a wealthy origin of nutrients and healthy fats.
To give birth to a healthy baby and at the same time for the well-being of the mother the following things should be taken care of:
- Make a scheduled calendar and confirm the doctor’s appointments.
- Join a pregnancy workout program or look for some activities to do at home.
- Stick to a healthful diet.
- Keeping an eye on the mother’s weight. Don’t get the wrong system of, “eat for two” and remember that the mother should only consume 300 extra calories per day for the fetus.
- Sleeping back to the mother’s left side, as it increases blood flow to the placenta.
- Making the home child-friendly and removing anything that may not be child-friendly.
- Make sure the mother never pressurizes her belly while sleeping, as this can cause your baby to choke.
- Avoid self-prescription medications at any cost and always consult with the doctor if you feel sick.
- Do not lift heavy things or do anything too severe.
Motherhood: Warning signs to keep an eye on during the pregnancy
- Severe bleeding can mean an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
- Drastic dizziness.
- Hazardous abdominal spasms or abdominal irritation.
- Immediate weight gain or sudden weight loss.
- It may be a foul-smelling discharge or it may be of any other color, such as green, yellow, transparent, or bloody.
- Chronic and severe headaches, abdominal distress, and bloating are common when the mother is about 20 weeks pregnant. These are the indications of preeclampsia.
- If your baby has been very active before, but your baby has less activity after you are 6 months pregnant, this could be a sign of a problem.
As a final preparation parents need to be physically, mentally, and financially prepared for a planned birth at least three months before the delivery. Save little by little. Prepare for postpartum and postpartum expenses. Keep in mind the name and address of the blood donor, phone number, transportation to the hospital, leave from the office, and assistance to relatives.