Pregnancy and Birth › Antenatal Consultation
Antenatal Consultation
The questions asked most often in pregnancy concern everyday life rather than medical tests: what may I eat, which medicines may I take, can I keep working, can I travel by air. Accurate answers are what make a pregnancy both safe and comfortable.
Diet
- Daily calorie needs rise far less than is generally believed — there is no need to "eat for two"
- Avoid raw and undercooked meat, unpasteurised cheese and raw eggs
- Avoid inadequately washed raw vegetables (risk of toxoplasmosis)
- Large predatory fish are limited because of mercury
- Caffeine is limited to roughly two cups of coffee a day
- No safe quantity of alcohol has been defined — it is stopped entirely
Medication
- Many medicines can be used in pregnancy; "no medication at all" is a common but mistaken belief
- Stopping treatment for an ongoing condition on your own can pose a greater risk than the condition itself
- Over-the-counter painkillers, herbal products and supplements are also medicines
- Ask before starting any product
Work and activity
- Most women can work until the end of pregnancy
- Prolonged standing and heavy lifting are limited
- Regular walking, swimming and pregnancy yoga are encouraged
- Contact sports and activities with a risk of falling are avoided
- Move about once an hour on long journeys; air travel is usually acceptable up to 36 weeks
Common complaints
- Nausea and vomiting — common in the first three months and manageable
- Heartburn and constipation
- Back and pelvic pain
- Swelling of the legs and varicose veins
- Disturbed sleep
- Safe remedies exist in pregnancy for most of these
When to seek help without waiting
- Bleeding or a loss of fluid
- Severe, persistent headache or blurred vision
- Sudden swelling of the face and hands
- Fever
- A marked reduction in the baby's movements
- Severe abdominal pain
