Awaiting the arrival of a new baby is a joyful time, but it’s not without its dangers. Your risks of preterm birth, birth injury, or loss are real. For example, the premature birth rate in the U.S. rose to 10%, between 2017 and 2018.
What’s more alarming is that this rate has been steadily increasing since 2014. However, understanding those risks can help you avoid them and keep you and your baby safe. Let’s look at some of those dangers and how to prevent them.
Miscarriage, Preterm Birth, and Pregnancy Trauma
It’s reported that 10-20% of pregnancies miscarry, most occurring before the 20th week of gestation. Most often, miscarriages happen before week 12. Sometimes this happens before a woman even knows she’s pregnant.
A miscarriage most commonly happens because the baby is not developing properly and nature must take its course. In other cases, there may be undiscovered risk factors. And other times, the cause is undetermined. You should see your doctor right away if you experience spotting, bleeding, or pain in your uterus while pregnant.
Preterm birth is when your baby arrives any time before the 37th week of pregnancy. There are many causes of preterm labor including infections, diabetes, and high blood pressure or the cause is unknown. It’s wise to follow any tests or screening your OB recommends detecting potential risks beforehand.
Serious cases of pregnancy trauma are linked to 7% of maternal deaths and 80% of deaths of unborn babies. These can be caused by anything from a serious vehicle accident to a rough fall. While difficult to avoid, you can take precautions and ensure that you are walking, driving, and riding safely during pregnancy.
Protecting Your Pregnancy
Though the problems listed above are concerning, many are preventable or manageable by making sure to stay healthy and safe while pregnant. Here are four key ways you can protect yourself and your unborn baby.
1. See Your OB or Healthcare Provider Regularly
Regular visits and contact with your obstetrician, doula, or midwife, and other healthcare providers help you have a safe and healthy pregnancy. Regular engagement with your healthcare provider is one of the keys to empowering you as a patient. Most women visit monthly, until about the 32nd to 36th week of pregnancy, at which point they may go weekly or every other week. However, if you have a high-risk pregnancy or a health condition, you may need to go more often.
To build trust, it’s important to give your practitioner a complete medical history. They may also ask you questions about your family’s history with pregnancy, labor, and delivery problems or complications. This information will guide them in properly testing you.
Your practitioner may run numerous tests on your baby, including heart rate, growth rate, and position. For you, frequent urine testing is common, as well as a glucose test at 24 to 28 weeks. These can determine if you have gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or a urinary tract infection, and help protect you and your baby’s health.
2. Nutrition and Exercise
Nutrition is important at every stage of life but it’s even more critical when you’re pregnant. Johns Hopkins Medicine states that you need
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