Pregnancy and all that it encompasses can be summarized by one simple goal: Healthy Mom/Healthy Baby. This is such a great, easy and achievable goal. Yet, the pregnancy journey can seem like a complicated puzzle. Sometimes you can’t get it right. You find yourself constantly trying to choose the best actions for maintaining your health. It’s also about finding the right choices for your baby’s health. My nursing advice encourages expectant mothers to prioritize their mental, physical, and nutritional well-being. Increase your knowledge in these areas of health. Focus on overall wellness. Practice patience and grant yourself grace. Take things one step at a time. By doing so, you’ll nurture both your body and mind. This ensures the health and safety of both you and your baby. Keep reading to discover steps for your pregnancy journey. These steps will help ensure a healthy outcome for both you and your baby!
DISCLAIMER: This article is not considered medical advice. Please seek all medical advice, recommendations from your provider
The first step is realizing that you are not alone. It’s important to create a village of family, friends and of course your healthcare providers. Your healthcare providers can include doctors or midwives, doulas and/or a combination of all providers. The goal is to have a healthcare team that supports you. They should listen to you and care for you. You should be able to trust them with your life.
PRECONCEPTION
Maternal Health start even before you conceive. A woman who is healthy at the time of conception is more likely to have a successful pregnancy and a healthy child (Stephenson et.al.,2018). Schedule a preconception counseling visit with your provider. It will help you identify any risks that can impact your baby’s health and yours. During this appointment, your provider will develop a plan. This plan will help you achieve a healthy pregnancy (American Obstetrics and Gynecology [ACOG], 2018). In addition, your provider may be advised to start folic acid. Folic acid is a vitamin that you can take before pregnancy to reduce the risks of neural tube defect as well as help reduce the risk of preeclampsia, miscarriage, low birth weight, still birth and small for gestational age (Stephenson et.al.,2018).
Another area to focus on prior to conceiving is achieving a healthy weight/body mass index (BMI). This is an area you want to discuss with your provider to determine what is healthy for you. Being underweight and overweight can impact the health of you and your baby (Stephenson et.al.,2018). One area that is often overlooked is the impact of a registered dietitian. The registered dietitian can help you balance your meals. This ensures you get the nutrients you need for a strong, healthy body.
DURING PREGNANCY
Having consistent prenatal care is key to health during pregnancy. If you suspect you are pregnant, call your doctor or midwife. If you have a positive pregnancy test, schedule an appointment with them. Prenatal care is important for three main reasons:
- Allows your provider to monitor your vital signs, laboratory results, weight, urine and address any and all health concerns
- Monitor baby well-being, growth, development, and heartbeat and address
- These consistent appointments allows you an opportunity to ask any questions, address any concerns you have
In addition, prenatal care provides an opportunity to increase your knowledge about what is occurring in your body. It also offers guidance on how to handle different aspects of your pregnancy. Your doctor and/or midwife can give you advice on nutrition and exercise. They can advise on necessary lifestyle changes, preparations for childbirth, breastfeeding, and care after the baby is born. Also, regular prenatal care helps build a relationship with your healthcare provider. This relationship is vital. You’ll feel more comfortable discussing any concerns. You can also ask any questions you have during your pregnancy. Remember, no question is too trivial when it comes to your health and your baby’s well-being.
Prenatal care can help EMPOWER you. Understanding what is happening to your body gives you confidence. You can question if something feels wrong. Ask questions when you are unsure about events. Use your voice to protect and care for yourself and your baby. Imagine being prepared for the changes and challenges that come along. That’s the power of prenatal care.
In addition, prenatal care isn’t just about medical check-ups; it’s about providing emotional support, too. Pregnancy, with all its physical and hormonal changes, can be a roller coaster of emotions. Having someone professional to talk to can make a world of difference in managing these emotions and ensuring your well-being.
Maternal Mental Health
Maternal mental health refers to the emotional and social well-being of a pregnant or postpartum person. It also includes mental wellness (Health Resources and Services Administration,2024). Mental health can include conditions such as eating disorder, depression, and anxiety. It may also involve post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsiveness, and sometimes an increase in substance use. Mental health transcends race, religion and gender. It is very common and impacts many. It is reported 1 in 8 women experience postpartum depression of which 50% are often untreated (https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/mmh-strategy.pdf).
When focusing on your mental health it is important to remember these words: It is okay to not be okay. There is nothing wrong with feeling the way you feel. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions do not make you less than. They do not make you a bad mother. It means like with any medication condition, treatment is needed.
My nurse tips for you is to listen to your body. Also have a trusted partner and/or family member to be in your circle. Sometimes you are not even aware when things are happening. However, that family member or friend can notice and initiate a conversation with you. Some things to be aware of that will alert you to speak with your provider:
- Mood Changes- feeling sad, hopeless
- Irritability- easily feeling angry or frustrated
- Loss of interest in activities you use to enjoy including intercourse
- Sleep issues- having trouble sleeping, not having a good sleep pattern
- Increase in physical symptoms such as pains, headaches, digestive problems
- Concentration issues- having difficulty remembering, concentrating or focus
- Thoughts of hurting yourself or thoughts of suicide
- Risk-taking behavior- engaging in risk-taking behaviors
Experiencing these symptoms does not mean you have ‘failed’. If you are experiencing these symptoms do not try to treat yourself or ‘work’ through them. I urge you to see a health care provider. They can determine whether these symptoms are related to depression, hormones, or something else.
The main thing is making sure you are healthy mentally and physically. This information may seem scary. It might also feel overwhelming. The good news is that if your healthcare provider identifies an underlying condition, effective treatment options are available. These may include, but are not limited to, talk therapy, medication management, and support groups. The most important thing is ensuring your overall mental and physical well-being.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, understanding and achieving optimal maternal health should be a right and not a privilege. From this article, you can see there are many layers to achieving a healthy pregnancy. Give yourself grace on your pregnancy journey. Remembering this is not a sprint but more like a marathon. With support from your partner, friends, and family, you can embrace your pregnancy fully. A trusting provider in your corner helps you walk towards a healthy and joyful pregnancy.
So, here’s our Motivational Monday message for you: Take care of yourself and your baby. Start your prenatal care as soon as possible. Embrace the journey that is pregnancy, with all its ups and downs. And most importantly, believe in your strength and ability to bring a new life into this world. After all, motherhood is a remarkable journey, and every journey begins with a single step. Let that step be towards regular prenatal care.
Advocating for Healthy Moms/Healthy Babies
References
Stephenson J, Heslehurst N, Hall J, Schoenaker DAJM, Hutchinson J, Cade JE, Poston L, Barrett G, Crozier SR, Barker M, Kumaran K, Yajnik CS, Baird J, Mishra GD. Before the beginning: nutrition and lifestyle in the preconception period and its importance for future health. Lancet. 2018 May 5;391(10132):1830-1841. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30311-8. Epub 2018 Apr 16. Erratum in: Lancet. 2018 May 5;391(10132):1774. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30979-6. PMID: 29673873; PMCID: PMC6075697.
https://www.aha.org/maternal-mental-health
The Task Force on Maternal Mental Health’s National Strategy to Improve Maternal Mental Health Care. 2024. https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/mmh-strategy.pdf
https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline/maternal-mental-health
The Amazing Adventures of Pregnancy 