Preparing Myself for My Baby

When I found out I was expecting, I was both excited and anxious. I was excited for obvious reasons but I was anxious because like all other mothers, I too wanted a healthy baby and feared for my baby’s health.

From the very first day, I read as much as I could about babies and pregnancy. I took time to go to the local public library to borrow books about babies. Certain things in life are inevitable but there are some things that every expectant mother can do to have a healthy pregnancy.

I walked. I walked every day. On days when I could not go outdoors, I walked inside our apartment. I would turn some music on and walk for at least 30 minutes. I even managed to walk about half a mile three days before my daughter was born. Walking during pregnancy is not only a good cardiovascular exercise but it is the only kind of exercise that you can do throughout your pregnancy. But don’t overstretch or exhaust yourself. Walk as much as your body can handle.

I kept myself hydrated. I never drank so much water in my life! Eight glasses of water was the minimum I drank everyday during pregnancy. I also made sure I drank three glasses of milk daily. Your baby needs calcium not only to grow healthy bones and teeth but also for a healthy heart, nerves and muscles.

Calcium intake during pregnancy is very important because if your baby does not get enough calcium it will draw it from your body, increasing your risk of having osteoporosis later in life.

I cut back on caffeine, which experts believe is not good for an unborn baby. I perhaps drank only four cups of coffee in nine months. I not only quit having tea or coffee but also chocolate and soda, both of which contain caffeine.

Caffeine is a stimulant and your baby’s undeveloped digestive system cannot metabolise it. Besides, caffeine results in increased urination and therefore, dehydration, if you do not drink plenty of water.
I tried to eat as healthy as possible. I ate fruits and vegetables every day. For lunch and dinner, I used to eat rice or bread with lentils, chicken and vegetables. I avoided fast food. Fast food is rich in saturated fat and sodium and it does not really give anything good to your unborn baby.

Well, you can certainly eat fast food once in a while but having it regularly is just not a great idea. The only fast food that I used to have while pregnant was pizza. The cheese in the pizza is a good source of calcium and I always chose green peppers, black and green olives, mushrooms and tomatoes as toppings.

I slept eight to ten hours a day. Your sleep routine will suffer terribly once the little one is here so now is the opportunity to sleep to your heart’s content. I said no to late night TV-watching and usually hit the bed by 10pm. Your body needs a lot of rest during pregnancy because carrying another human being inside you 24/7 is more than just a stressful job.

I read, sang and talked to my unborn baby. Doctors now believe that from 23 weeks on, a foetus can hear. Every baby loves to hear their mother’s voice. Use this time to bond with your baby by reading, talking and singing to him/her.

I wanted a natural childbirth, so in the beginning of my third trimester, I started prenatal yoga at home to prepare my body for its biggest exam.

I tried to keep myself happy. I shunned bad thoughts and laughed as much as I could. I talked to friends and family, who were veteran mums, for advice and ideas.

In a nutshell, I did almost everything in my power to make my body a safe and happy place for my unborn baby. Every child deserves to be loved and taken care of.

By Wara Karim
The Daily Star link
Date of publication: March 26, 2013