30 brief prenatal care measures

1. Supplement 0.4 mg of folic acid every day before 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you have a history of neural tube pregnancy, you can increase the amount as directed by your doctor.

2. There is no 100% untouchable food during pregnancy. Just don’t eat raw meat, eggs, unpasteurized dairy products, and spoiled things.

3. It is safe to drink no more than 200mg of coffee per day (about one medium cup of American coffee). If you are afraid of heart palpitations, drink less. There is no need to quit. (Additional: It is an old belief that drinking coffee can cause teratogenesis. The academic community has long made it clear that there is no risk if the dose is lower than this. You can also switch to lower caffeine if you mind)

4. If morning sickness is severe, don’t hold on. If you can’t eat, check your urine for ketones first. If you need to give nutritional fluids, give them. It won’t harm your child.

5. For skin care products, just choose basic moisturizing products from regular brands. There is no need to buy special products for pregnant women. Just avoid retinol and salicylic acid ingredients.

6. Don’t blindly take supplements such as ginseng and velvet antler during early pregnancy, as these can easily aggravate the risk of bleeding.

7. Pregnant mothers with normal BMI only need to gain 11.5-16kg in weight during pregnancy. Too much weight will not only make it difficult to give birth, but also double the risk of gestational diabetes.

8. There is no abdominal pain or bleeding. You can go to work or take a walk normally during the first trimester. There is no need to stay in bed every day to protect your fetus.

9. When setting up the file, try to choose the hospital where you plan to have your baby, and get it done before 12 weeks to avoid the hassle of transferring to another hospital later.

10. Organize the report sheets of each prenatal checkup according to time and bring them with you to the next prenatal checkup. The doctor can find what he wants immediately.

11. Don’t blindly choose prenatal check-up items: if you are under 35 years old and have low risk, choose Tang screening or non-invasive method; if you are over 35 years old and are high risk, just follow the doctor’s instructions and have an amniotomy (Additional note: don’t believe the rumor that “amnitotomy will definitely cause miscarriage”. The abortion rate in regular hospitals is less than 0.1%, which is much lower than the risk of missed diagnosis with Tang screening)

12. Sexual intercourse is allowed in the second trimester of pregnancy, as long as the movements are gentle. If you have placenta previa or a history of premature birth, avoid it.

13. Start counting fetal movements from 28 weeks, count 1 hour each in the morning, noon and evening. If it moves 3 times per hour, it is normal.

14. Calcium should be supplemented until the end of lactation, 1000-1200 mg per day. If you don’t drink enough milk, add calcium tablets and some vitamin D for easy absorption.

15. When taking iron supplements, do not eat them with milk or coffee, as this will affect absorption. Pair it with some orange juice to double the effect.

16. Taking 10 minutes a day to do Kegel exercises can not only reduce late-stage urinary leakage, but also speed up the labor process.

17. Don’t stand or sit for long periods of time. Get up and walk for 2 minutes every hour to relieve lower limb edema.

18. If edema is serious, don’t drink winter melon water blindly. Check your blood pressure first to rule out pregnancy-induced hypertension. If there is no problem, just control salt appropriately.

19. Pregnancy pillows are really not an IQ tax. A pillow for your waist and belly in the third trimester of pregnancy will help you sleep much more comfortably. You don’t need to buy an expensive one, as the height-adjustable one will suffice.

20. Whether stretch marks grow or not mainly depends on genetics and weight gain. Applying olive oil can only relieve dry skin, but it cannot be prevented 100%. Don’t spend a lot of money to pay the IQ tax.

21. You can wear makeup during pregnancy. Just choose regular brands of makeup. Don’t use makeup. Just remove makeup as soon as you get home.

22. You basically don’t need a certificate to fly before 32 weeks of pregnancy. After 32 weeks of pregnancy, depending on the airline’s requirements, try to choose an aisle seat to facilitate movement.

23. Don’t rub your belly in circles or apply massage oil randomly, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy, as this can easily stimulate uterine contractions and lead to premature birth.

24. If possible, go to the hospital’s maternity school after 28 weeks and learn the Lamaze breathing method. This will really help you suffer less during childbirth.

25. Pack your maternity bags one month in advance. You don’t need to buy too many internet celebrity items. Maternity razors, metered sanitary napkins, baby NB diapers, and quilts are just what you need.

26. Don’t believe the nonsense that “natural birth is better than caesarean section”. If it meets the criteria for natural birth, go for it. If there are indications for surgery, go for caesarean section. It is more useful to listen to the doctor than to listen to the relatives who are beyond your reach.

27. Cry when you are in a bad mood. There is no need to adhere to the "happy during pregnancy" persona. It is normal to have bad mood due to hormone fluctuations. If you really can't relieve it, go to a doctor for psychological counseling.

28. If you have regular uterine contractions (once every 5 minutes, lasting more than 30 seconds each time), your water breaks, or you see more redness than your aunt, go to the hospital immediately instead of waiting at home.

29. After your water breaks, don’t stand around. Lie down immediately and raise your buttocks to prevent umbilical cord prolapse.

30. The last one: Your feelings are more important than anything else. Don’t be kidnapped by the demands of the “perfect mother”. Be as comfortable as you want.

In fact, when I was sorting it out, I deliberately did not divide it strictly by categories such as diet, prenatal check-ups, and daily life. Pregnancy is already tiring enough, so I just thought of it and looked through it, and just use the one I saw. There is no need to be so organized.

Let me tell you something I encountered last week. A little girl who was 16 weeks pregnant secretly took a bite of a popsicle in the middle of the summer. Her mother-in-law made her cry. She came to the outpatient clinic to ask the doctor whether it would affect the baby. It is really unnecessary. As long as you don’t have diarrhea or stomachache after eating it, it’s completely fine to take an occasional bite. There is no need to put such a huge moral burden on yourself.

I also went with my sister for a prenatal check-up, and she vomited to the point where she couldn't even drink water. My mother also said that "morning sickness is normal, and it will pass if you tolerate it." The result was 3+ ketones in the urine, and I stayed in the hospital for two days to receive nutritional fluids. When I came out, I felt much more energetic, and the baby was fine. Don't stick to those old ideas. If you feel uncomfortable, just see a doctor. That's better than anything else.

Oh, yes, many people say they can’t do Kegel exercises. In fact, it’s the feeling of contraction when you hold in your urine. You can do 3 seconds of contractions and 3 seconds of release every time, in groups of 10. Just do three or four groups a day. You can do it when you are fishing at work or lying on the bed scrolling through your mobile phone. My best friend has been doing it since she was 20 weeks old. It only took 40 minutes from opening three fingers to giving birth. Everyone says it is useful.

There are also many people who ask me whether all these rules must be followed. Of course not. For example, if you are particularly sensitive to caffeine and have insomnia and panic after one sip, then you should definitely stop drinking it. All the guidelines are for reference. Your physical feelings and the judgment of the attending doctor always come first.

Pregnancy is a very personal matter. You don't need to compare your belly size or weight gain with others. It's enough that you feel comfortable and your baby is healthy.