Factors Affecting Child Development Essay Example for Free

Factors Affecting Child Development EssayWhat is antenatal care?Prenatal care is the health care you modernise while you are big(predicate). Take care of yourself and your baby by Getting early prenatal care. If you know youre pregnant, or think you might be, c totally your medico to schedule a visit. Getting level(p) prenatal care. Your pay off leave schedule you for many checkups over the course of your motherhood. Dont miss any they are all important. take noteing your doctors advice.Return to topWhy do I need prenatal care?Return to topI am thinking or so acquire pregnant. How nates I take care of myself? You should start taking care of yourself aheadhand you start trying to get pregnant. This is called preconception health. It means conditi iodined how health conditions and risk factors could affect you or your unborn baby if you become pregnant. For example, some foods, habits, and medicines can harm your baby even before he or she is conceived. Some heal th problems also can affect pregnancy. Talk to your doctor before pregnancy to learn what you can do to prepare your body.Women should prepare for pregnancy before becoming sexually active. Ideally, women should give themselves at least 3 months to prepare before getting pregnant. The five most important things you can do before becoming pregnant are 1.Take cd to 800 micrograms (400 to 800 mcg or 0.4 to 0.8 mg) of folic sulfurous every day for at least 3 months before getting pregnant to trim back your risk of some return defects of the brain and spine. You can get folic acid from some foods. notwithstanding its hard to get all the folic acid you need from foods alone. Taking a vitamin with folic acid is the best and easiest way to be sure youre getting enough.2.Stop smoking and imbibeing alcohol. direct your doctor for help. 3.If you get a medical condition, be sure it is under control. Some conditions include asthma, diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, obesity, thyr oid disease, or epilepsy. Be sure your vaccinations are up to date. 4.Talk to your doctor ab come forth any over-the-counter and prescription medicines you are using. These include dietary or herbal supplements. Some medicines are not safe during pregnancy. At the alike time, stopping medicines you need also can be harmful. 5.Avoid contact with toxic substances or materials at locomote and at home that could be harmful. Stay outdoor(a) from chemicals and cat or rodent feces.Return to topIm pregnant. What should I do or not do to take care of myself and my unborn baby? Follow these dos and donts to take care of yourself and the precious life growing inside youHealth care dos and dontsGet early and regular prenatal care. Whether this is your first pregnancy or third, health care is extremely important. Your doctor will check to make sure you and the baby are red-blooded at each visit. If there are any problems, early action will help you and the baby. Take a multivitamin or pre natal vitamin with 400 to 800 micrograms (400 to 800 mcg or 0.4 to 0.8 mg) of folic acid every day. Folic acid is most important in the early stages of pregnancy, but you should continue taking folic acid throughout pregnancy. Ask your doctor before stopping any medicines or starting any new medicines. Some medicines are not safe during pregnancy. Keep in fountainhead that even over-the-counter medicines and herbal products may cause side effects or other problems. But not using medicines you need could also be harmful. Avoid x-rays. If you must have dental work or diagnostic tests, tell your dentist or doctor that you are pregnant so that trim care can be taken. Get a flu shot. Pregnant women can get very sick from the flu and may need hospital care.Food dos and dontsEat a variety of well-grounded foods. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, calcium-rich foods, and foods low in saturated fat. Also, make sure to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Get all the nutrients you need each day, including iron. Getting enough iron prevents you from getting anemia, which is linked to preterm birth and low birth weight. eat a variety of healthy foods will help you get the nutrients your baby needs. But ask your doctor if you need to take a daily prenatal vitamin or iron supplement to be sure you are getting enough. Protect yourself and your baby from food-borne illnesses, including toxoplasmosis (TOK-soh-plaz-MOH-suhss) and listeria (lih-STEER-ee-uh). Wash fruits and vegetables before eating. Dont eat uncooked or undercooked meats or fish. Always handle, clean, cook, eat, and store foods properly. Dont eat fish with lots of mercury, including swordfish, king mackerel, shark, and tilefish.Lifestyle dos and dontsGain a healthy amount of weight. Your doctor can tell you how much weight gain you should aim for during pregnancy. Dont smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs. These can cause long-term harm or death to your baby. Ask your doctor for help quitting. Unle ss your doctor tells you not to, try to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week. Its best to spread out your workouts throughout the week. If you worked out regularly before pregnancy, you can retain up your activity level as long as your health doesnt change and you talk to your doctor about your activity level throughout your pregnancy. Learn more about how to have a fit pregnancy. Dont take very hot baths or use hot tubs or saunas.Get plenty of sleep and find ways to control stress. Get informed. Read books, watch videos, go to a childbirth class, and talk with moms you know. Ask your doctor about childbirth education classes for you and your partner. Classes can help you prepare for the birth of your baby.Environmental dos and dontsStay away from chemicals like insecticides, solvents (like some cleaners or paint thinners), lead, mercury, and paint (including paint fumes). Not all products have pregnancy warnings on their labels. If you re unsure if a product is safe, ask your doctor before using it. Talk to your doctor if you are worried that chemicals used in your workplace might be harmful. If you have a cat, ask your doctor about toxoplasmosis. This infection is caused by a parasite sometimes found in cat feces. If not treated toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects. You can lower your risk of by avoiding cat litter and wearing gloves when gardening. Avoid contact with rodents, including pet rodents, and with their urine, droppings, or nesting material. Rodents can carry a virus that can be harmful or even deadly to your unborn baby. Take steps to avoid illness, such as washing hands frequently. Stay away from ill-used smoke.Check out our more detailed tips on Pregnancy dos and donts (PDF, 176 KB). Return to topI dont want to get pregnant right now. But should I still take folic acid every day? Yes Birth defects of the brain and spine happen in the very early stages of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she i s pregnant. By the time she finds out she is pregnant, it might be too late to prevent those birth defects. Also, half of all pregnancies in the unite States are not planned. For these reasons, all women who are able to get pregnant need 400 to 800 mcg of folic acid every day. Return to TopHow often should I seem my doctor during pregnancy?Your doctor will give you a schedule of all the doctors visits you should have while pregnant. some experts suggest you see your doctor nigh once each month for weeks 4 through 28Twice a month for weeks 28 through 36Weekly for weeks 36 to birthIf you are older than 35 or your pregnancy is high risk, youll probably see your doctor more often. Return to TopWhat happens during prenatal visits?During the first prenatal visit, you can transport your doctor toAsk about your health history including diseases, operations, or prior pregnanciesAsk about your familys health historyDo a complete strong-arm exam, including a pelvic exam and Pap testTake yo ur blood and urine for lab workCheck your blood pressure, height, and weightCalculate your referable dateAnswer your questionsAt the first visit, you should ask questions and discuss any issues related to your pregnancy. Find out all you can about how to stay healthy. after prenatal visits will probably be shorter. Your doctor will check on your health and make sure the baby is growing as expected. Most prenatal visits will includeChecking your blood pressureMeasuring your weight gainMeasuring your abdomen to check your babys growth (once you bulge to show)Checking the babys heart rateWhile youre pregnant, you also will have some routine tests.Some tests are suggested for all women, such as blood work to check for anemia, your blood type, HIV, and other factors. Other tests might be offered based on your age, personal or family health history, your ethnic background, or the results of routine tests you have had. Visit the pregnancy section of our website for more details on prenat al care and tests.Return to topI am in my late 30s and I want to get pregnant. Should I do anything special? As you age, you have an increasing chance of having a baby born with a birth defect. barely most women in their late 30s and early 40s have healthy babies. See your doctor regularly before you even start trying to get pregnant. She will be able to help you prepare your body for pregnancy. She will also be able to tell you about how age can affect pregnancy. During your pregnancy, visual perception your doctor regularly is very important.Because of your age, your doctor will probably suggest some extra tests to check on your babys health. More and more women are hold until they are in their 30s and 40s to have children. While many women of this age have no problems getting pregnant, fertility does decline with age. Women over 40 who dont get pregnant after six months of trying should see their doctors for a fertility evaluation. Experts define infertility as the inability to become pregnant after trying for one year. If a woman keeps having miscarriages, its also called infertility. If you think you or your partner may be unfertilised, talk to your doctor. Doctors are able to help many infertile couples go on to have healthy babies.Return to topWhere can I go to get free or reduced-cost prenatal care?Women in every state can get help to pay for medical care during their pregnancies. This prenatal care can help you have a healthy baby. Every state in the United States has a program to help. Programs give medical care, study, advice, and other services important for a healthy pregnancy. To find out about the program in your stateCall 800-311-BABY (800-311-2229). This toll-free telephone number will connect you to the Health Department in your area code. For information in Spanish, call 800-504-7081. Contact your local Health Department.