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Health Teaching
Hygiene: These are practices that are beneficial in maintaining health and as well as preventing diseases,
particularly through cleanliness. Good Hygiene throughout the prenatal period may help prevent
infections, Keep the mother comfortable, and may also help in attaining healthier patterns of living that
can be reinforce to promote healthy behaviors. Here are some of the most important hygiene regimen
that are helpful to pregnant mothers:
• Skin care - Acne become more irritated during pregnancy. The extra hormones in your body
cause your oil glands to secrete more oil, which can cause breakouts.
Tips:
- Cleanse your face every night and every morning.
- Use fragrance-free soap to avoid nausea.
- Dry itchy skin during pregnancy causes very uncomfortable dryness and itching. If you begin
to experience severe itching late in your pregnancy, possibly accompanied
by nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue and/or jaundice.
- keep your abdomen moisturized.
- Use an anti-itch cream such as calamine lotion to help provide more relief.
• Hair care - avoid chemical treatments and coloring. During pregnancy, it is safer to avoid
chemical treatments and coloring.
Hair Trims controls breakage, prevents thinning, and makes hair look healthy and shiny.
• Breast care - Pregnancy tends to change the appearance and feel of your breast in a number of
ways, which can cause discomfort. It is important to begin in preparing the breast for
breastfeeding during the prenatal period. Here are some tips for breast and nipple care:
- Maintain hygiene by changing the bra and wash nipples regularly to prevent the liquid from
forming a crust. Nipples tend to leak colostrum especially during the last trimester.
- Do not apply soap on the nipple area. It will lead to dry and cracking nipples.
- Apply moisturizing creams.
• Dental care - During pregnancy you are more likely to have problems with your teeth or gums.
Hormonal changes increase the risk of developing gum disease which turn can affect the health
of the developing fetus. Pregnancy gingivitis, Nausea and vomiting are the major reasons why
pregnant mothers developed dental problems.
pregnancy gingivitis - changes in hormone level allow the bacteria to grow in the mouth
and gums easily. Makes periodontal disease more common when pregnant.
Nausea and vomiting - the stomach acids from vomiting can breakdown the enamel
coating of the teeth.
Here are some tips to maintain healthy teeth and gums while on pregnancy:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Gums may bleed more easily.
Floss once a day.
- Use toothpaste and mouth rinse that contains fluoride.
- Rinse mouth with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with a cup of water if have vomiting or
morning sickness. If possible, try to wait at least 1hr after vomiting before brushing teeth.
- Limit how much sugar you eat
- Choose nutritious snacks like raw fruits, vegetables, yogurt or cheese
- Drink water or low-fat milk. Avoid beverages that are carbonated or contain a lot of sugar
like soda or juice.
• Bowel elimination - Constipation is having fewer than three bowel movements a week. To be
fair, irregularity can happen anytime, whether you’re pregnant or not. But it’s a complaint that
affects a lot of pregnant people. When it occurs during pregnancy, though, it’s often due to an
increase in the hormone progesterone.
The good news is that constipation can be an easy fix. Drink plenty of fluids, especially
water, to help soften stools so that they’re easier to pass. In addition, add more fiber to your
diet. This includes eating more vegetables and fruits.
Diarrhea (very loose stools) Fluctuating hormones during pregnancy can also cause
loose or watery stools. Diarrhea occurs as your body produces the hormone relaxin. This
hormone is only released during pregnancy. It prepares your body for labor and delivery by
loosening your joints and ligaments. The problem, though, is that relaxin can also loosen the
joints around your rectum, causing bouts of diarrhea. For the most part, mild diarrhea isn’t
serious, but it’s important to stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids. Contact your doctor if you
have more than three loose stools a day, or if you have other symptoms such as:
- blood or mucus in your stools
- weight loss
- stomach pain
- fever
Unusual poop color during pregnancy - the color of your stools can also change during
pregnancy. Normal stools are usually light to dark brown, but during pregnancy, your poop
could turn green. A lot of times this is triggered by an increase in fiber intake, or more
specifically, eating more vegetables and leafy greens. Taking prenatal vitamins or an iron
supplement, both have also been known to change the color of poop from brown to green. You
may even have green bowel movements if you take a prescribed antibiotic while pregnant. But
although green poop is normal and doesn’t usually indicate a problem, talk with your doctor if
you have any concerns. Sometimes, green poop is due to an infection, gallstones, food
poisoning, and irritable bowel syndrome.
• Perineal Hygiene - Pregnant mothers need to maintain good perineal hygiene during pregnancy
because of increased vaginal discharges. Wipe the vaginal front to back after voiding to prevent
contamination and infections.
Vaginal douching a method to wash out the vagina with a mixture of antiseptics and
fragrances that are sold in drugstores and supermarkets
ADVANTAGE
- women say it would make them feel cleaner
DISADVANTAGE
- Vaginal infection
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Pregnancy complications
- Cervical cancer
According to experts, douching should be avoided. Vaginal odor is normal; however, a
strong foul smell could be a sign of infection. The acidity of the vagina naturally controls bacteria
& by simply washing the vagina with mild soap and water it will keep the vagina clean
• Clothing and grooming - Remember that wearing tight clothing during pregnancy is generally
not recommended. Aside from feeling restricted, tight clothing also can lead to a host of issues.
For instance, wearing something tight while pregnant can cause pain in different parts of the
body. It also can reduce blood circulation and may even lead to yeast infections. Recommended
clothing for pregnant ladies:
- loose-fitting maxi dresses
- flowing skirts and tops
- oversized button-down shirts
- large sweaters and cardigans
- and jersey-style shirts and dresses that are soft and stretchy all work well on pregnant
bodies.
Travel
• Is it safe to travel when you’re pregnant?
If you have a solid pregnancy, it normally safe to venture out yet converse with your
medical services supplier before arranging any outing. In the event that you have illnesses,
for example, diabetes and heart issues, it ought to be restricted to travel. Despite the fact
that you have sound pregnancy, you have to advise your arrangements to your medical
services supplies. Here are the high-Risk factors:
- Cervical problems
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Prior miscarriage
- Prior premature labour
REFERENCES:
americanpregnancy.org
whattoexpect.com
parenting.firstcry.com
indianexpress.com
verywellfamily.com
healthline.com
cleveland.org
oviahealth.com
anmum.com
livescience.com
familydoctor.org
alaskasleep.com
whattoexpect.com
unitypoint.org
acog.org