Antenatal care means how your health, and the health of your baby is monitored before your baby’s delivery. For most women, early and regular prenatal care promotes a healthy pregnancy and delivery without complications. But some women are at an increased risk for complications even before they get pregnant for a variety of reasons.

Complete care of your pregnancy starting with pre-pregnancy consultation and guidance, total ante-natal (during pregnancy) care and finally delivery both Vaginal and Caesarean. And finally post pregnancy guidance and contraceptive advice including intra-uterine device insertion and tubal sterilization both Laparoscopic and mini-lap.

First Trimester

The first of the pregnancy stages, or the first trimester is very important to both you and the baby which is growing and developing inside you and will require many adjustments to your life style. This is the phase your body is preparing itself for the next nine months.

Lots of hormonal changes are taking place inside you. You may feel extremely tired the first 2 months of pregnancy. Don’t be shy about it and take every opportunity to rest. Your baby will develop from just a few cells, the size of a pin head to about 7cm in this trimester.

Most of the baby’s organs are well developed by the end of this trimester. It can move arms and legs independently and also its head from side to side.

Second Trimester

By this time, most women are no longer suffering from sickness and overwhelming fatique brought on by the hormonal changes. This is the best stage at which you feel overall healthier and look good with definite change in body shape.

The major milestones in your baby’s development will be development of downy hair, called lanugo, during 14-15 to protect the skin, but will disappear few weeks before birth. From 16-18 weeks you will the feel first fluttery movements of your baby.

Around 19 week, a greasy white substance called vernixcaseoa is produced. It is a covering that protects the delicate fetal skin from the amniotic fluid. By the end of this trimester, baby weighs approx. 25 percent of its birth weight.

Third Trimester

During this time you will continue to put on weight and will continue to do so until about your 36th or 37th week. The reason is that baby will also put on three quarters of its weight during this period. Your belly may affect your balance, and lead you to have back aches.

Swelling and shortness of breath are to be the common complaints as the pregnancy progresses full term. Adequate rest and easy exercises should be the important part of your pregnancy.

Your baby’s movements will be assuring factor of its well being. Each baby has different movement pattern; if you feel any change in frequency or intensity must bring it to the notice of your doctor. During 37-39 weeks, your baby’s nervous system is maturing, ready for birth.

His lungs secrete a soapy fluid, which keeps them open, ready for breathing. The layer of fat under the skin is developing to maintain body temperature outside womb. By week 36, start getting organized and prepared for labor.

EATING RIGHT DURING PREGNANCY

Good nutrition during pregnancy, and enough of it, is very important for your baby to grow and develop. You should consume about 300 more calories per day than you did before you became pregnant.

• Breads and grains 6-11 servings.
• Fruits 2-4 servings.
• Dairy products 4 servings.
• Protein Products 3 servings.
• Use fats and sweets in moderation.
• Foods high in fiber that are enriched such as wholegrain breads, cereals, pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables.
• Eat and drink at least four servings of dairy products and calcium-rich foods.
• Choose oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, and tomatoes.
• Choose at least one source of vitamin A every other day. Sources of vitamin A include carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, spinach, water squash, turnip greens, beet greens, apricots, and cantaloupe.

FOODS TO AVOID WHEN PREGNANT

• Coffee: Restrict your intake of coffee in the First Trimester of pregnancy. Coffee contains caffeine. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it helps eliminate more fluids from the body. This can result in water, juice, and milk rather than caffeinated beverages.
• Unwashed vegetables: Yes, vegetables are safe to eat, so you still need to eat them. However, it is essential to make sure they are washed to avoid potential exposure to toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma may contaminate the soil where the vegetables were grown.
• Unpasteurized Milk: Unpasteurized milk may contain bacteria called Listeria, which can cause miscarriage.
• Medication: Strictly Avoidself Medication. Consult a Gynecologist before using any medication.
• Artificial Sweetners: Avoid taking food which contains artificial sweetners like; soft drinks, desserts, curd, chewing gum and candy.