Pregnancy Concerns

For most women, a lot of concerns surround a pregnancy. If you're thinking about having a baby, you're better off addressing these issues even before you get pregnant. Failing that, you should address them as soon as you learn you're pregnant.The health of your baby and yourself is one of your main concerns. You want to make sure you're as healthy as possible. That means getting any chronic conditions you have under as much control as possible and adopting a lifestyle that's healthy for you and your baby. Long before the expected birth of your baby, you and/or your partner need to resolve such questions as how much time off from work you will take, whether your maternity leave will be paid or unpaid, how your health insurance will cover the birth and your child, how you will address the additional financial costs that most children represent, and how you will tell or involve your other children.

What to Do

Talk with your doctor, employer, health insurer and the father-to-be to make sure you are as prepared as possible -- medically, financially and emotionally -- for the changes that your pregnancy and the birth of your child will bring into your life. Especially regarding health and lifestyle questions, it's best if you address these issues even before you become pregnant. For example, you may need to make temporary changes on the job if you work in an environment where you are exposed to toxic chemicals or radiation during your pregnancy; these conditions can harm the development of your baby. Once you do become pregnant, make sure you get regular prenatal care to ensure your pregnancy is as healthy as possible for you and your baby.

Self-care Steps for Pregnancy Concerns

• Medical concerns. Before you become pregnant, or as soon as you learn you are pregnant, meet with your doctor. Your doctor should assess and screen you for health factors that could put you and/or your baby at higher risk. Your doctor may be able to help minimize those risks. This includes managing any health conditions you have, such as diabetes or high blood pressure; screening you for anemia, hepatitis B, HIV, thyroid problems or genetic disorders (such as cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell anemia and Tay-Sachs disease); assessing age-related risks (mothers over 35 are at greater risk of having children with Down syndrome and mothers under age 15 might not have a fully formed pelvis), and determining if you have immunity from rubella (German measles), which can cause birth defects if contracted during the first trimester. A vaccine is available, but cannot be given once you are pregnant.

• Nutrition. Even before you get pregnant, your healthy diet should include a daily intake of 0.4 mg of folic acid, which can significantly reduce the chances of serious spinal cord (neural tube) birth defects.

• Exercise. If you don't already exercise, talk with your doctor about how it can help you and your baby. If you already work out, talk to your doctor about modifying your routines while remaining active.

• Lifestyle habits. Before or as soon as you become pregnant, try to eliminate all lifestyle habits that could prove harmful to your pregnancy and your baby, including smoking, drinking alcohol and/or using illegal drugs.

• Emotions. Partly because of hormonal changes during pregnancy, you can experience a roller-coaster of emotions. Sudden tears and heightened irritability are not unusual. You also might find the fatigue to be trying. You and those closest to you should understand that such mood swings are a common side effect of being pregnant.

• Work and finances. You and the father-to-be need to discuss with your employers how much time you can take off prior to or following the delivery of your baby, and how much, if any, of that leave is paid. You need to consider such financial issues as getting by on one salary if one of you wants to stay home with your child; the extra costs of providing for a child; and, if you both intend to continue working, the costs of child care. Explore child-care options long before your child's birth.

• Health insurance. You and/or the father-to-be need to contact your insurer to discuss how and when your coverage can be extended to your child. Is it automatic, or do you have to enroll your child. If so, by when? Also, how much more, if anything, will you have to pay in premiums and other out-of-pocket costs to have your child covered?

• Father-to-be. It took a partnership to conceive your baby, and it's generally best for all of you if that same partnership sees you through your pregnancy. The father should be an active participant. As much as possible, involve your partner in doctor visits and childbirth classes. He should be loving, understanding and supportive -- even in the face of your mood swings and fatigue -- and pitch in to help with some of the duties you normally handle.