There are many women who have health issues and question whether or not they will have a healthy pregnancy. We offer some simple steps that you can take to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about your concerns and go over any conditions you have and medications you are taking prior to trying to conceive.
Pregnancy & Health Conditions
Asthma - There are many different types of asthma and each case can impact your pregnancy in a different way. Your condition could improve, worsen, or not change at all. If you notice that your asthma does get worse during pregnancy, it is critical that you consult with your doctor. Your asthma medication won't hurt your baby but if your condition is not controlled there is a potential risk that your baby may not develop properly.
Epilepsy - Unlike a lot of medical conditions, epilepsy is one that should be monitored very carefully during your pregnancy. In order for you to have a healthy pregnancy, you must control seizures. While an occasional seizure is not likely to cause any significant damage to your unborn baby, frequent or severe seizures that last more than 30 minutes could be dangerous. These episodes are rare during pregnancy and fewer than 20 out of 100 expecting mothers experience increases with their epileptic seizures.
You should consult your doctor on the particular medication you are currently on, but most physicians will recommend that you continue taking your epilepsy medicine as prescribed. Keep notes on your seizures, too. Your doctor will want to know if the episodes are worsening or becoming more frequent.
Diabetes - Controlling your blood sugar during pregnancy is just as important as before. If you are insulin-dependent you need to pay special attention to those levels to ensure a healthy pregnancy. You may need to re-evaulate your insulin dosages, exercise, and diet. Your blood glucose levels will also need to be closely monitored. If they aren't where they should be, you may need to talk with your doctor about increasing insulin injections. You need to know that diabetic women and their babies are at greater risk.
Discuss your diabetes during the labor and delivery consultation at the hospital. When you are creating your birthing plan, this very important medical condition needs to be addressed from the very beginning. If things go wrong, every professional on staff needs to know about the situation and understand your plan.
High Blood Pressure - This is another medical condition that can become a significant health risk to you and your baby if it gets worse during pregnancy. Dosages for anti-hypertension drugs that you most likely were taking before you became pregnant may need to be adjusted. You can expect regular ultrasound appointments during your pregnancy to monitor your growing baby.
Pregnancy can be stressful and your body will go through changes it has never experienced before. Previous medical conditions can weigh in on how to be healthy during pregnancy. Just be aware of your body and consult with your medical professional as often as necessary.