Healthy Woman :How to avoid pregnancy complications

During pregnancy, severe bleeding, anemia, anesthesia, malaria and septicemia (a serious medical condition in which the entire body becomes inflamed) are some of the causes of maternal deaths in Rwanda. Every woman wants to have their baby delivered safely without complications for both mother and child. However, sometimes complications set in and, if not medically attended to early enough, might turn out to be grave with dire consequences. Every pregnancy is precious and holds an adorable unborn child that needs utmost care for proper growth. Therefore, every pregnant woman should pay paramount attention to her health in order to avoid anything that might endanger baby or mother. According to the Chairperson of the Rwanda Midwives Association, Josephine Murekezi, pregnancy complications are always a result of women ignoring regular antenatal care during the nine-month period. She said that if women go for regular check-up and antenatal care, then they will be able to avoid or even detect the likely complications. “During the first trimester (first three months), pregnant women should visit the hospital at least once, and twice a month in the second trimester. After 36 weeks during pregnancy, women should visit the hospital every week,” Murekezi said. Murekezi said that women should always rush to hospital in case of any serious discomfort they may feel. She also called upon expectant mothers to feed well and prevent anemia. According to an online health Journal, Emaxhealth, pregnant women should drink between six to eight-ounce glasses of juice or water each day to avoid any potential problems. If they do not, they put themselves at the risk of suffering from complications. As the pregnancy progresses, women who get dehydrated may increase their chances of experiencing pre-term contractions. Expectant mothers should also avoid extended exposure to the sun even though warm weather is alluring. Hours in the sun can lead to overheating that can harm the fetus. Body temperature, taken under the arm, should not exceed 101 degrees Fahrenheit. Pregnant women should also avoid hot tubs since they can cause the core body temperature to rise quickly, according to Emaxhealth. In order to avoid pregnancy complications, women should watch their diet by eating healthily. Eating lots of fresh food is highly recommended. It is also better to have more frequent meals rather than heavy meals. Agatha Mutamba, a midwife at Rwanda Military Hospital advises women to eat vegetables, fruits, dairy products, fish, eggs and carbohydrates and many other healthy foods. “These foods provide women with the needed energy and nutrients vital for both mothers and their unborn babies,” Mutamba said. Performing antenatal exercises is also healthy. However, light exercises are better off than carrying heavy jerry cans and doing lots of housework, which are straining especially during the last three months of pregnancy. No woman wants to lose their lives or baby due to simple mistakes that are preventable. Rwanda’s mothers should take antenatal care seriously, eat healthy foods and regularly visit health facilities. m.kaitesi@yahoo.com