What to pay attention to in the early stages of pregnancy
Release time : 01/18/2025 18:13:27
The early stages of pregnancy are crucial for the entire gestation period. There are many precautions to take during this time, including diet, sexual activity, fetal care, and daily living habits. If these important habits are not maintained in the early stages of pregnancy, it can be very detrimental to the fetus and also make it difficult for the mother to give birth smoothly.
In the early stages of pregnancy, there are specific things to be mindful of. Below, experts from BabyNet will explain in detail.
During the early stages of pregnancy, dietary precautions include: It is not recommended to supplement with folic acid during the early stages of pregnancy as a preventive measure against fetal malformations. It is advisable for pregnant women to begin supplementation with folic acid from the planning stage of pregnancy and onwards.
Foods rich in folic acid include: red beet leaves, spinach, lettuce, asparagus, beans, yeast, animal liver and apples, oranges.
It is not recommended to consume large amounts of nourishment during the early stages of pregnancy, as morning sickness can significantly affect a pregnant woman's appetite.
In terms of diet, it is generally not recommended to overly supplement nutritional needs; one should primarily follow their own preferences and eat what they like.
Pregnant women who are experiencing vomiting should pay attention to consuming light, easily digestible foods.
As you enter the second trimester, the morning sickness should subside, allowing for the timely intake of nutrients.
When you eat, many expectant mothers feel hungry from the beginning of pregnancy. This feeling is different from the hunger before being hungry.
After pregnancy, the mother's taste and appetite will change.
During early pregnancy, many mothers become "over-eating", which is not a big deal. Eat what you want to eat, as long as it does not cause any harm.
However, it is best to consume foods that are light and easy to digest.
It is recommended that pregnant women carry some food with them, which can be taken out when they feel hungry.
What to eat to relieve morning sickness? Most women experience nausea and vomiting in the early weeks of pregnancy, usually starting several hours after getting up in the morning.
Symptoms in individuals with mild symptoms include decreased appetite, occasional nausea, and vomiting.
A few people have obvious symptoms, vomiting whatever they eat, even if they don't eat. Vomiting is not limited to the morning, and their sense of smell is particularly sensitive. Smelling unpleasant odors can also cause vomiting.
Experts from Mom.com remind that vomiting during early pregnancy is a normal physiological phenomenon and does not require excessive stress. It usually has little impact on health and does not require treatment
As long as you maintain a happy and stable mood, pay attention to rest.
Most people can expect to have these symptoms disappear by the 12th week of pregnancy.
Of course, pregnant women who vomit excessively and vomit whatever they eat may experience metabolic disorders, requiring treatment at the hospital and, if necessary, hospitalization for intravenous infusion.
In the early stages of pregnancy, it is important to take precautions for fetal stabilization: If you notice abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding during the early stages of pregnancy, seek medical attention promptly to avoid complications such as ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. The most dangerous thing for pregnant women is ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage, which both cause abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. Therefore, if you experience abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, it is crucial to seek medical help promptly.
During the early stages of pregnancy, even minor abdominal pain and diarrhea can be signs of miscarriage and warrant medical attention, so it is important not to overlook these symptoms.
Avoid sexual intercourse during the early stages of pregnancy when the fetus is most unstable. To "stabilize" the fetus and allow it to continue living within your body, you should avoid sexual activity during the first three months of pregnancy.
Particularly for pregnant women of advanced age or those who have had a history of miscarriage, it is imperative to temporarily abstain from sexual activity to prevent any potential harm to the baby.
Do not engage in strenuous exercise. During pregnancy, expectant mothers need to maintain appropriate physical activity.
However, in the early stages of pregnancy, the development of the fetus is unstable, and the physical condition of the pregnant mother is also unstable. At this time, the pregnant mother should not engage in strenuous exercise to avoid miscarriage.
Prenatal Care Instructions During Early Pregnancy: After confirming pregnancy at the first prenatal checkup, expectant mothers should visit a community hospital for their initial prenatal examination and establish a maternal health care record.
In the future, prenatal examinations can be conducted at secondary hospitals or at the hospital where the birth is decided to take place.
Prenatal diagnosis is of great importance for every pregnant woman who hopes to have a healthy baby.
Prenatal diagnosis can exclude some of the major abnormalities, and it can be done as early as 8 weeks gestation.
Currently, the most commonly used methods for chromosomal screening include chorionic villus sampling and peripheral blood screening.
Of course, both vaginal lavage and peripheral blood screening are not definitive tests. If abnormalities are detected during the examination, a hysterocentesis should be performed at 16-20 weeks of pregnancy for further confirmation.
In prenatal diagnosis, the method of chorionic villus sampling may cause certain damage to the fetus and even lead to miscarriage.
Therefore, pregnant women who are over 35 years old, have had children with unhealthiness or normality, have a family history of genetic diseases, have taken harmful drugs during pregnancy, or have been infected with viruses, should undergo chorionic villus sampling. The above pregnant women should visit the health care institution for genetic counseling before pregnancy.
Generally, pregnant women undergo only peripheral blood screening.
If abnormalities are detected, amniocentesis should be performed for definitive diagnosis. Precautions during the first three months of pregnancy: The period from conception to the third month is crucial for the formation of various organs in the fetus and is considered the most important time. During this period, it is advisable for expectant mothers to minimize computer use and internet access.
Because computers constantly emit electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the naked eye during operation, electrical appliances that use current to work will more or less produce "radiation".
Electromagnetic radiation varies in intensity and may cause miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women, posing significant harm to fetuses aged 1-3 months.
Additionally, the display screen can attract dust around it, which contains a large amount of microorganisms and "dust particles," easily causing pregnant women to have spots on their face.
The expert at Mama.com advises that during the early stages of pregnancy, mothers should avoid radiation and use computers sparingly or not at all.
However, if it is necessary for work, there is no choice but to ensure adequate protection against radiation to prevent harm to the developing fetus during organ formation.
During the early stages of pregnancy, there are some precautions to take when using the internet: 1. Studies have shown that the areas behind and on the sides of the monitor emit strong radiation. Therefore, pregnant women should adjust their position while using the computer, avoiding sitting directly behind or beside the screen.
2. It is possible to attach a computer screen protector, which can effectively shield at least 75% of electromagnetic radiation.
Pregnancy > Early Stages of Pregnancy: How to Protect Against Radiation While Online
4. During the initial stages of pregnancy, it is advisable to limit internet usage to no more than 8 hours per day and to take a 30-minute break every two hours.
5. When you don't need to use the computer, you can turn off the monitor.
6. If you have to use the computer, pay attention to keep a distance from the screen.
Generally speaking, the distance between your eyes and the screen should be about 60 cm.
Additionally, pregnant women should avoid watching television, playing computer games, or making phone calls for extended periods.
It is recommended that pregnant women wear radiation-proof clothing, watch television from a distance, use the microwave oven away from it, and do not hang mobile phones on their chest.
Precautions for the onset of cold in early pregnancy. If there is any abnormality or discomfort during early pregnancy, it is best to seek a consultation at the obstetrics and gynecology department. It is absolutely not appropriate to self-medicate.
During the early stages of pregnancy, if you catch a cold, pay attention to the following:
2. Post-pregnancy, pregnant women's body enzymes undergo certain changes that make them less capable of detoxifying and excreting many medications, potentially leading to accumulation and toxicity. During the early stages of pregnancy when fetal organs are forming, medications can have a certain impact on the fetus, therefore, it is best to avoid taking medication for colds.
However, it is not always necessary to avoid medication during the early stages of pregnancy. Some conditions can cause significant harm to both the mother and the fetus, in which case, it is advisable to weigh the benefits against the risks and take medication under a doctor's guidance.
Maintaining a cheerful mood, adequate rest, and nutrition can enhance physical strength. Therefore, whenever you feel fatigued, take a break and enjoy ample sleep.
4. If a high fever persists, seek medical attention if the condition becomes serious.
Precautions for daily life during early pregnancy: breast care. Starting from a few weeks after pregnancy, expectant mothers may feel breast swelling and even some pain, occasionally squeezing the nipple and producing thick, pale yellow colostrum.
Moreover, as the breasts enlarge, they develop a lump-like structure.
These are all inevitable experiences of being a mother. From the moment the fertilized egg implants, accompanied by changes in hormones in the body, the breasts also respond accordingly, preparing for future breastfeeding.
In the early stages of pregnancy, expectant mothers should evenly scrub their breasts and areolas with warm water every day to keep the breasts clean and the nipple skin firm.
After washing, the expectant mother can gently pinch her nipples with fingers to ensure they remain open.
If the nipple is retracted, it should be frequently stretched outward with your hand or a cupping device.
Pregnant women can also use olive oil or body lotion specifically designed for breast care.
To get a good rest, pregnant women are easily tired in the early stages of pregnancy, so they need to rest appropriately.
Moreover, excessive fatigue can lead to miscarriage in pregnant women, especially those who are older, have a history of miscarriage, or suffer from certain chronic diseases. They need special attention to rest.
During these three months, expectant mothers should keep a sleep time of 8-10 hours every day, avoid being in a tired state, avoid vigorous exercise and emotional excitement to keep their mental state as good as possible.
Not consuming tobacco, alcohol, dyeing hair, or perming hair does not refer only to refraining from smoking and drinking. It also includes avoiding prolonged exposure to smoke environments, as passive inhalation can also harm children.
Additionally, pregnant women are also advised against dyeing or perming their hair.
During the initial 3 months of pregnancy, walking with care is particularly important, as it can easily lead to miscarriage. It is imperative that expectant mothers exercise caution when going out, climbing stairs, or entering and exiting bathrooms, to avoid falls.
Frequent tooth brushing is recommended for pregnant women due to nausea, as frequent tooth brushing can help prevent the destruction of teeth by the residues of vomiting.
In addition, newly pregnant expectant mothers like to eat sour food, which is the most likely to damage their teeth
Keep your body clean. Some women may find that their vaginal discharge is higher than usual in the early stages of pregnancy. Should they go to the hospital for treatment? In the early stages of pregnancy, it is normal for vaginal secretions to increase due to the rapid increase in hormones.
If there is no itching in the vulva and there is no odor to the discharge, you need not worry.
However, if symptoms of vulvar itching and pain occur.
When the vaginal discharge is yellow and there are symptoms such as strange odor, foul smell, etc., it is necessary to go to the hospital for treatment, which may be caused by external genital or vaginal diseases
If left unchecked, it may affect the growth and development of the fetus
Therefore, in the early stages of pregnancy, it is important to pay attention to cleanliness and hygiene, change underwear frequently, and keep underwear and perineum clean.
In early pregnancy, pregnant women should wear soft, loose clothing without restrictive waistbands, tight pants, or high heels.
Otherwise, it is easy to cause miscarriage.
Moreover, high heels can also cause leg fatigue for pregnant women, which is detrimental to their physical health.
The medical section mentioned in this article is for reference only.
If there is any discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately, and the diagnosis and treatment should be based on offline medical examination.