get the flu vaccine and the Tdap vaccine (adult tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine). These vaccines will prevent diseases that are known to affect the health of your baby.
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Certain Illnesses May Need To Be Handled Differently
If you’re dealing with a chronic illness such as diabetes, mental health disorders, and pain disorders, it’s likely that you’re taking medications daily. Not all of these drugs are recommended while you’re pregnant. That’s why you need to be open with your doctor about what’s happening. During your pregnancy and possibly during breastfeeding, they’ll work with you to find the most effective alternatives to the medications you typically take.
Additionally, it’s not unheard of for pregnant women to develop high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and hernias. These conditions might be treated differently because of your pregnancy but the doctor’s aim will be to ensure that the conditions are managed well. If the methods aren’t working, they’ll keep exploring other options.
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Protect Your Body All The Time
While pregnant, you’ll need to protect yourself from all external factors that can have a negative effect on your baby. That includes harmful chemicals in the environment as well as second-hand cigarette smoke.
If you work in an area that will expose you to chemicals, it’s best to talk to your employers and the doctor about the options. In some cases, a change in protective gear will be all you need.
In others, you might need to work in a different area until you’ve given birth. You should never drink alcohol, smoke, or take illegal drugs while you’re pregnant.
Additionally, your diet can make a huge difference in the health of your pregnancy. You may be taking multivitamins but they won’t give you all the nutrients you need. It’s a good idea to include a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy items in your diet.
While some aspects of pregnancy are beyond your control, there are a lot of things you can do to ensure that things go well. Most importantly, any concerns need to be discussed with your doctor quickly. It’s better to be told that nothing’s wrong than to hear that you should have said something sooner.