Complete prenatal care knowledge

The core essence of prenatal care is never to follow a standardized strategy, but to develop a personalized plan around the three core goals of "adapting one's own physical conditions, identifying risks in advance, and reducing the burden of delivery and postpartum recovery" - this is the most intuitive conclusion I have come to after spending 12 years on the front line of obstetrics and accompanying nearly a thousand pregnant mothers through their pregnancies.

Many pregnant mothers have saved dozens of childbirth lists and nursing strategies as soon as they were diagnosed with two problems. Today they will take folic acid supplements and tomorrow they will take DHA. The day after tomorrow, they will see a post saying "You can't eat crabs during pregnancy" and they will be so scared that they dare not even touch the shrimps. In fact, there is really no need to be so tight. Take the most quarrelsome issue of "one person eats and two people take supplements". Old people always feel that when you are pregnant, you have to have meat and vegetables every day, and you have to eat all the soup and water. Last year, I met a 26-week pregnant mother. Her mother-in-law made pig trotter soup and pigeon soup every day. She gained 24 pounds in six months. The glucose tolerance test showed that the blood sugar was so high that she needed insulin. In the end, the baby grew to 8 and a half pounds. It took 3 hours to have an autopsy without turning, and she suffered two sins. The current consensus among nutrition departments is that the most appropriate overall weight gain during pregnancy is 12-18 kilograms. Thin pregnant mothers can gain more weight, while obese mothers should gain less weight. There is no standard for how much to eat. As long as the B-ultrasound shows that the baby's development is in line with the gestational age, even if you want to eat hot and sour noodles, you can take a few bites occasionally, not every day. Of course, raw sashimi, undercooked steak, and alcoholic drinks are not allowed to be touched. This is the bottom line.

The eating problem has been solved. The minor problems such as edema, pubic pain, and inability to sleep that many pregnant mothers complain about are actually not as difficult to deal with as they say online. Let’s talk about edema. Some people told me before that they dare not drink water because they are afraid that the more they drink, the more they will become swollen. This is really a misunderstanding. As long as your kidney function is normal, drinking water normally will not aggravate edema at all. On the contrary, it will be caused by eating too salty food. My general advice to pregnant mothers who come for prenatal check-ups is to put their legs on a 15-centimeter-high pillow when sleeping at night. You don’t need to buy special maternity pillows that are hundreds of dollars in size. Just stuff an old down pillow at home into it. It is soft and fits the shape of your legs, and is much more comfortable than a hard functional pillow. Let’s talk about sleeping postures. Many people are told that they must sleep on their left side. When they wake up and find themselves lying on their backs, they cry. It’s really not a problem. As long as you don’t feel chest tightness and suffocation, you can feel comfortable. Sleeping on the left side is better for blood supply to the uterus, but if you can’t sleep well, how can the blood supply be better? Some people also ask whether they can put on makeup and use skin care products during pregnancy. This has been a topic that has been debated for many years. The older generation said that cosmetics contain chemical substances and should not be touched. In fact, the ingredients of regular brands of skin care products and cosmetics are safe and will not penetrate the skin barrier into the blood and affect the fetus. For babies, as long as you don’t use products containing retinol and salicylic acid, which are ingredients that are clearly for pregnant women to use with caution, it’s absolutely fine to put on light makeup and apply sunscreen. I’ve met several pregnant mothers who kept the habit of makeup throughout their pregnancy. When their mood improved, their condition also improved, and most of them got the green light all the way to the prenatal check-up.

Of course, you can relax for minor problems. Once some signs appear, you must not ignore them and run to the hospital immediately. Many people remember to go to the hospital when they see redness. In fact, seeing redness is just one of the signs of labor. As long as the amount of bleeding does not exceed the menstrual volume and there are no regular contractions, you can take a shower at home, pack your things, and then go there slowly. I have seen too many people who rushed to take a taxi after seeing redness. The cervix was not even opened with a finger, and they were driven home again, exhausted from the torment. But it’s different if your water breaks. No matter it’s three o’clock in the middle of the night or you’re out shopping in the supermarket, once you feel warm fluid flowing out uncontrollably, immediately find a place to lie down, raise your butt, call an ambulance or ask a family member to drive you. Don’t stand and walk. Last year, there was a pregnant mother with a second child. Her water broke and she went downstairs to take a taxi. When she arrived at the hospital, the umbilical cord came out a little. Fortunately, it was delivered in time, otherwise the consequences of the baby’s hypoxia would be disastrous. In addition, if there is persistent pain in the lower abdomen, sudden increase or decrease in fetal movement, dizziness and blurred vision, etc., don’t bear it. Even if it turns out to be a false alarm, it is better than being delayed.

When it comes to going to the hospital, many people stock up on a cabinet of maternity bags early, but it’s really not necessary. I have seen too many ready-made maternity bags online. Most of the maternity pads inside are as thick as cotton pads. If you give birth in the summer, you will be covered with sweat. It is better to buy your usual night pants and add 3-4 packs of metered sanitary napkins. They are used to measure the amount of postpartum bleeding. This is a real need. There are also baby clothes. Don’t stock up on too many sizes 52. I’ve seen many pregnant mothers stock up on five or six pieces. As a result, the baby weighs more than 8 pounds after birth and can directly wear size 59. 52 will be too small after one wear. It is a complete waste. By the way, there is also the disposable perineal cold compress pad, which is really a magic tool if you have a normal delivery. When you apply it right after giving birth, most of the swelling and pain can be eliminated. It is much easier to use than the traditional method of applying potato.

Many pregnant mothers have asked me privately before, whether they can exercise during pregnancy and whether they can have sex. These two questions are really justified by public opinion and mother-in-law. Let’s talk about exercise first. If you have placenta previa, cervical insufficiency, or have had multiple miscarriages before, just lie down and don’t move around. If everything is normal, it’s no problem to walk for 30 minutes a day, do maternal yoga or even swim. Not only can you control your weight, but you can also suffer less pain during delivery. Last year, I had a pregnant mother who was a dance teacher. She practiced gentle maternal dance throughout her pregnancy. It only took 2 hours from finger opening to delivery, which made people in the same ward envious. As for the issue of having sex in the first three months of pregnancy and the three months after the third trimester, it is definitely not recommended. It can easily cause uterine contractions. If there are no problems such as bleeding, abdominal pain, or low placenta in the second trimester, it is actually possible. Just pay attention and posture, and there is no need to have any psychological burden.

In fact, after working in obstetrics for so many years, my biggest feeling is that there is really no "standard answer" to prenatal care. Everyone's physical condition is different, and the good methods used by others may not be suitable for you. Don't always focus on other people's pregnancies to compare yourself, and don't be so anxious that you can't sleep because of a small deviation. Doing prenatal check-ups on time, asking the doctor if you feel uncomfortable, eating well, sleeping well and in a good mood are more effective than any nursing tips. After all, only when you are happy can the baby in your belly grow well.