10 short questions about prenatal care

1. There is no need to oversupply folic acid. For ordinary pregnant mothers, 0.4 mg per day is enough when preparing for pregnancy until early pregnancy. If there are high-risk factors, follow the doctor's advice to increase the dosage. The normal dosage is very safe. There is no saying that "excessive supplementation will cause teratogenesis".

2. There is no need to forcefully lie on the left side during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. There are no special circumstances such as intrauterine hypoxia of the fetus or umbilical cord around the neck. You can sleep however you feel comfortable.

3. There are four core items for detecting missed prenatal tests: NT (11-13 weeks + 6), Tang screening/non-invasive (15-20 weeks), major abnormality (20-24 weeks), glucose tolerance (24-28 weeks). Other optional items can be flexibly adjusted according to the doctor's advice.

4. If morning sickness is severe, don’t hold on. If you can’t eat continuously or your urine shows positive ketones, you must seek medical attention promptly. Obstetric antiemetics are safe. Holding on will affect the development of the fetus.

5. Pregnant mothers who do not have contraindications such as placenta previa and threatened abortion can fully exercise. Walking, maternal yoga, and swimming are all suitable. Do not lie down every day to nurse the fetus.

6. It is not that the more you eat, the better. Pregnant mothers with normal BMI can control their weight gain within 11-16kg throughout pregnancy. An oversized fetus will only increase the risk of vaginal delivery, which is not good for mother and child.

7. It is normal for vaginal secretions to increase during pregnancy. If there is no odor or itching, just flush the vulva with clean water. Do not use lotion indiscriminately or douche the vagina.

8. If you have edema in the third trimester of pregnancy, don’t blindly drink winter melon water or corn silk water as a diuretic. Measure your blood pressure first to rule out the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension, and then make adjustments according to the doctor’s advice. Don’t blindly treat yourself with diet.

9. Do not frequently touch your belly for "prenatal education", especially when there are uterine contractions or abnormal fetal movements. Repeated stimulation of the abdomen can easily induce premature birth.

10. You don’t need to stock up on a complete set of Internet celebrities’ maternity packages. There are three core categories: couple’s ID cards, birth certificates and other documents, maternity pads and metered sanitary napkins, newborn half-backs and diapers. Others that are in short supply can be purchased at the supermarket downstairs of the hospital at any time, so there is no need to stock up in advance and occupy space.

Harmful, to be honest, I have seen too many pregnant mothers being deceived by the messy "pregnancy taboos" on the Internet. I used to have a second mother who was told by others that she must sleep on her left side when she was pregnant with her first child. She had to carry it for 5 months. Eventually, she developed synovitis on her shoulder and it hurt when she raised her arm. When she asked me for a prenatal checkup when she was pregnant with her second child, I told her that there are so many dead rules. Your sleeping comfort is more important than anything else. If you have insomnia while sleeping on your left side, it is not good for the baby, right?

Oh, by the way, there is also folic acid. Now there are different opinions in the academic circles. Many studies believe that small doses of folic acid can be supplemented throughout pregnancy, which is good for preventing anemia in the third trimester and high blood pressure during pregnancy. It does not say that you must stop after 3 months of pregnancy. This completely depends on your diet. If you usually eat a lot of green leafy vegetables, it will be okay if you stop. If you usually eat less vegetables, it will be fine until you are pregnant. Don’t worry.

I met a pregnant mother before who vomited in the early stages of pregnancy to the point where she couldn't even drink water. Her mother-in-law said, "Morning vomiting is normal, just handle it and it will be fine." She endured it for a week. When she came for a prenatal check-up, her urine ketones were 3+, and she was directly admitted to the hospital for infusion. Why do you think it's so hard? The experience of many elderly people is not wrong, but it is not suitable for all situations. If you really feel uncomfortable, go see a doctor instead of forcing yourself to take it.

By the way, there is also the issue of exercise, which is quite controversial. The older generation always say, "You should lie down properly when you are pregnant. If you move, the fetal gas will be serious." In fact, as long as your prenatal check-up is normal and there are no problems such as bleeding, contractions, and placenta previa, moving for half an hour every day is really better than lying down. I had a pregnant mother before. I went to the park for a 40-minute walk every day, and also did pregnancy yoga. It only took 2 hours and 40 minutes from the time I opened my 3rd finger to giving birth, and I no longer suffered from the sins of old age. Of course, if the doctor clearly says that you need to protect your pregnancy, then you can just lie down at home and don’t act blindly. This is different from person to person, and there is no standard answer.

I'm really tired of the postpartum bag. Last week, a pregnant mother brought a 28-inch suitcase to the hospital. She brought 5 baby hats, various diaper pads, and anti-overflow breast pads. Half a box was stocked. She was discharged after 3 days of hospitalization and a normal delivery. Half of the things were not even unpacked. In the end, it was her husband who carried the big box and left. It was really unnecessary. The facilities around the hospital are very complete now. There is no need to go downstairs and buy them in 10 minutes. There is no need to stock up a bunch of them half a year in advance and take up space.

Finally, I want to say that there are really not that many "iron rules" that must be followed in prenatal care. Everyone's physical condition is different. Don't blindly compare others' strategies. If you are not sure, ask your prenatal doctor as soon as possible. It is more reliable than reading 100 online articles.