Physical and psychological preparation
Preparation courses for mothers are essential for most mothers. Led by midwives and doctors in training classes are provided appropriate physical and psychological that motherhood is a positive experience. A good preparation for motherhood leads to increased health and welfare of the pregnant woman and her family.
Despite advances in the epidural, the birth preparation classes remain essential for pregnant women. Anesthesia does not prevent learning to correctly breaths and to act appropriately at the time of delivery.
In addition, we should not ignore the causes of major changes to come, nor how to be prepared to deal with typical situations that occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period. All that you learn in class.
It is also very important to be in contact with other pregnant women with whom you can share your concerns and fears.
Women should be aware that their participation is essential to the birth of their baby and, for this takes place under optimum conditions, experience and training acquired in the course of preparation for childbirth remain the most effective and so far irreplaceable.
The NHS, through its health centers, offers pregnant women very complete preparation courses run by professionals of the highest level.
Maternal education: childbirth preparation courses
Maternal education courses or childbirth preparation allow the mother become more aware of their status and a positive attitude towards it. The methods used in these courses offer the ability to overcome fear and to endure pain better, besides acquiring a good command over the muscles themselves, particularly those involved in the stages of labor.
Followed the methods are as follows:
The “training” autogenic breathing. acts mainly on the active and passive control of breath, and get that women are able to relax without help in times of fear and stress. Preparation begins two months before delivery and requires effort and perseverance, as it is necessary to repeat the exercises at home daily.
“Stretching.” is a series of exercises designed to stretch muscles, which aims to relax the whole body and mind, and especially those involved in childbirth. The exercises of “stretching” for pregnancy studied aim to stretch the pelvic area and are very useful to combat the typical pregnancy discomforts such as back pain. This activity can start from the third month of pregnancy.
Water exercise. This is a difficulty remaining gymnastics exercises performed with the belly. The water stimulates circulation and relieves conditions such as varicose veins, back pain and constipation. The exercises are conducted under the observation of a swimming instructor and / or a midwife. Pregnant women learn relaxation techniques and breathing, and exercise all the muscles in the positions adopted during labor. Courses start from the fourth month and continue until the end of pregnancy. They must spend about two hours a week. It is important to remember that this is not a preparation for water birth.
Website of interest: The embarazo.net
Healthy Habits
Before getting pregnant there are several habits and should be included in our daily lives:
Take a multivitamin with folic acid
Quitting smoking
Do not drink alcohol
Stopping contraception
If you are in drug treatment for chronic diseases, discuss with your doctor.
Exercise
Do not obsess with the idea of being pregnant
Not be exposed to high stress
Having your own “calculator” of ovulation to know your fertile days.
There are cases where it is especially advisable to go to specialist who can help us in this goal of having a child, for example:
In women over 35 years.
Women with drug treatments
Women who have recently had surgery to lose weight
Women who have previously had a spontaneous abortion or premature delivery
The star: folic acid
Of the tips that we have to face the stage of conception, it is vitally important to take folic acid.
This is a B vitamin found in fruits, vegetables and cereals. It is essential for the baby since it is responsible for training the brain and spinal cord of the fetus. Lack of this vitamin can cause abortions or births of babies dead. It can even cause the baby, born still alive, suffering spina bifida or anencephaly.
The vitamin should be taken before pregnancy and during early pregnancy, when the fetal brain and spinal cord are forming. But not only have to take the vitamin (400 micrograms per day) but also a balanced diet and food-reinforced bearing this component.