Really, before you get pregnant, make lifestyle adjustments that will support a healthy pregnancy and raise the chances of having a healthy kid while lowering the risk of disability. Follow up on your physical examinations before and during pregnancy. Inform your healthcare expert that you are going to have a child and inquire about strategies to strengthen your health in preparation. Excess weight loss, an appropriate fitness routine, and the elimination of bad habits are some examples.
Discuss any current medicines you are taking with your healthcare expert and the dangers of continuing them during pregnancy. Many medicines have an impact on pregnancy growth and development. Paxil, a prominent antidepressant, is just one of several medicines associated with cardiac problems in infants, as do several common pain relievers.
Many people in the community struggle with unwelcome weight loss. According to research, some people with disabilities are more likely to be underweight than other population groups. There are several causes for this. A person with a physical impairment, for example, may have decreased muscular mass or trouble eating and swallowing.
A person with a disability can successfully regulate their weight in a variety of ways to avoid undesirable weight loss. For expert advice, consult your healthcare expert.
Factors that contribute
Some of the contributing variables that may lead to undesirable weight loss in people with disabilities include.
- A specific medical problem that has an impact on the body's metabolism.
- The individual is growing more active.
- Muscle mass loss
- Medicine that may cause a loss in appetite.
- Eating and swallowing difficulties
- Depression, worry, or frustration can all have an impact on one's eating habits.
- Relying on family members or caregivers to supply meals.
- Nutrition and weight management expertise is lacking.
Tips for Lowering the Chances of Birth Defects
Avoid Second-Hand Smoke and Quit Smoking
There is no such thing as a "safe amount" of smoking, just as there is no such thing as a "safe amount" of alcohol. Smoking can endanger both your life and the life of your child. Smoking can induce bleeding, which can result in the death of both the baby and you. Smoking women are more likely to miscarry and have babies that are underweight or have birth abnormalities. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is more common among newborns born to smoking moms. 5 In addition, smoking can have long-term cognitive repercussions in youngsters.
Get all of your immunizations, including the flu shot, up to date!
Vaccines help protect you and your growing baby from dangerous diseases. During each pregnancy, get a flu vaccination and a whooping cough vaccine (also known as Tdap) to help protect yourself and your baby.
- Flu: You can get a flu shot before or during your pregnancy.
- Whooping Cough: The whooping cough vaccine is available throughout the last three months of each pregnancy.
Take the recommended vitamins and meet your nutritional requirements!
A nutritious diet and the proper vitamins are essential for preventing impairments and increasing the chances of delivering a healthy baby. Folic acid, a form of Vitamin B, for example, has been found to help prevent neural tube defects, popularly known as spina bifida. Neural tube abnormalities are spinal cord malformations that can cause mental and physical impairments. Taking folic acid before and throughout pregnancy can help lower this risk.
Before becoming pregnant, attempt to achieve and maintain a healthy weight
Obese women (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or greater) before pregnancy are at an increased risk of difficulties during pregnancy. Obesity also raises a pregnant woman's chances of having a child with one of the numerous significant birth abnormalities. Even if a woman is not actively planned parenthood, improving her health and attitude can help. If a woman is overweight or obese, she should consult her healthcare expert about ways to lose weight before becoming pregnant.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/children/index.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/prevention.html
- https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/prenatal/Pages/Reduce-the-Risk-of-Birth-Defects.aspx
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/disability-managing-underweight