Ensuring a healthy pregnancy

Ensuring a healthy pregnancy

Every parent s experience should be special and one of a kind... This is what has inspired us at Fortis Clinique Darné to create The Nest. This unique and first of its kind facility in Mauritius is dedicated to the health and well-being of mother and child. The medical care at The Nest is born out of the core belief that every woman and every child is special, both in body and mind. Best healthcare for them can only emerge from a deeper understanding of their physiology, emotions, aspirations, and anxieties. This is what we aim to be... their health comfort zone. The Nest combines state-of-the-art medical care with a family-centric approach. Our range of services includes care of premature infants, full-term newborns, toddlers, children, and mothers. It is backed by five core specialties: Gynaecology, Obstetrics, Neonatology, Paediatrics, and Critical Care - An exclusive mother and child hospital within our hospital. We at the The Nest understand that being pregnant is a very important time in a woman s life. This brochure provides information on how to have a healthy pregnancy through early detection, regular prenatal care and eating the right kinds of foods. What is early detection? Early detection is finding out that you are pregnant early. It will help you start taking better care of yourself and your baby. What to do if you think you are pregnant? If you are showing signs of being pregnant, you can buy a pregnancy test kit at any pharmacy without a prescription. If the test shows that you are pregnant please see a doctor. He/she will confirm the result either with further blood tests or echography. It is recommended that you go within the first two months of pregnancy. What is prenatal care? Prenatal care is the healthcare you get when you are pregnant. It ensures that common problems affecting mothers and babies in the early stages of pregnancy are detected and managed actively. Take care of yourself and your baby by: getting prenatal care checkups (Your doctor will schedule several appointments during your pregnancy. Do not miss any!) following your doctor s dietary advice and adopting healthy life habits attending prenatal classes with your partner to prepare yourselves psychologically, physically and mentally for the arrival of your baby 2

3 Prenatal care also includes laboratory tests, ultrasound exams, and other screening tests. These tests are performed to ensure your well-being and that of your baby during the pregnancy, and to prevent, detect and treat any complications. Prenatal classes at The Nest The Nest by Fortis Clinique Darné provides prenatal classes for expecting mothers. Prenatal classes come in various forms, but all have the same aim. They all set out to prepare you for labour, birth, and early parenthood. The classes are conducted by qualified midwives. The expecting mother is encouraged to be accompanied by the would-be father, partner, or a friend/family member. The prenatal classes also help the would-be father to understand what the expecting mother is experiencing during her pregnancy, what to expect during delivery and after birth, and how to help the mother to be. During these interactive classes, the midwives prepare women to have a better birth experience to make the early weeks with their babies easier to cope with. These classes help relieve apprehension of first time parents, establish a trusting relationship, and deal with the pregnancy morally. A visit to The Nest is also organised for expectant parents to get familiar with the facility and staff. For additional information, please contact The Nest at Fortis Clinique Darné on 601 2300 Practical tips for a healthy pregnancy Keep youself and your baby healthy during pregnancy by: drinking six to eight glasses of water, natural fruit juice, and milk everyday taking vitamins that include Folic Acid, Iron, and Calcium exercising by taking walks getting enough sleep not taking any medication without consulting your doctor getting a flu vaccination avoiding stress avoiding heavy work avoiding long distance travel Folic acid is the required vitamin that is of proven benefit in terms of reducing abnormalities of the baby s spine (spina-bifida). It is rarely found in our standard local diet and hence needs supplementation separately to ensure foetal wellbeing. Iron is also a common deficiency during pregnancy. Many drug preparation hence contain both folic acid and iron. Be sure each day to eat: grains (rice, bread, or corn meal) fruits & vegetables meat and beans milk, yogurt, or cheese 4

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoal infection transmitted via unwashed fruits, vegetables, and raw or partly cooked meat. It can cause blindness and mental restriction to the foetus. Care should therefore be taken to wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, while handling undercooked meat, or when using knives, utensils, or cutting boards contaminated by raw meat. The baby you are carrying can be harmed by your exposure to certain substances. Please stay away from the following things: cigarette smoke, both active and passive (Cigarette smoke can cause the baby to be born too small or too soon to be healthy) alcoholic drinks (beer, wine and liquor) coffee, tea, or soft drinks are allowed in small doses (Check with your doctor) insecticides, cleaning supplies, and paint 6

Weight gain during pregnancy Gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy by eating a healthy, balanced diet is a good sign that your baby is getting all the nutrients he or she needs and is growing at a healthy rate. Physical conditioning aids well-being Exercise is very important for maintaining your physical and emotional health. Eating for Two: Myth or Reality? Advantages of exercising during pregnancy: 7 Good nutrition is another crucial step in having a healthy baby. A pregnancy takes about 300 extra calories a day to maintain, and an average-sized woman can expect to gain between 10 and 15 kilograms overall. Those extra calories should be nutritious ones. A pregnant woman needs a balanced diet complete with protein, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, with a minimum of sugar and fatty foods. This does not mean eating twice as much because shredding the extra weight postnatally can prove very difficult. Eases and prevents aches and pains of pregnancy Prepares women for labour and delivery Lowers risk of high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy Makes getting back into shape after delivery easier Improves sleep Types of exercises during pregnancy 8 (Please check with your doctor before following an exercise regime) Low impact exercises are recommended, such as: Walking Swimming Dancing Cycling Pelvic floor exercises or kegal exercises.

9 Method: Tighten pelvic floor muscles for 5-10 secs, relax for 5 secs. Repeat 10-20 times, 3 times a day. These exercises strengthen pelvic floor muscles and help you have an easy delivery, while preventing leaking urine during pregnancy. Activities to avoid: basketball soccer horse riding gymnastics scuba diving Exercising is not safe for all Women with the following problems are cautioned against exercising during pregnancy: heart disease lung disease obesity severe diabetes thyroid disease seizure disorder premature labour persistent bleeding in second or third trimester pregnancy-induced hypertension Useful exercising tips: maintain a good posture, it strengthens the muscles of your back take short rest periods with your feet elevated during the day follow a balanced exercise program lie on your side, supported by pillows learn and practice PELVIC TILT 10

Key Services: The Nest will be a registered trademark of Fortis Healthcare International Ltd. Cardiac Sciences General Surgery Oncology Chest Medicine Critical Care Ophthalmology Cosmetic Surgery Internal Medicine Orthopaedics Dental Minimally Invasive Surgery Paediatrics Dermatology Neonatology Psychiatry Endocrinology Nephrology Rheumatology ENT Neuro Sciences Urology Gastroenterology Obstetrics and Gynaecology Support Services: 64 slice CT Scan Echography Medical Laboratory Bone Densitometry Emergency and Open MRI Chemotherapy Ambulance Services (24/7) Pharmacy Dental Scan Mammography Physiotherapy Dialysis Medical Check Ups X-Ray MEDICAL & SURGICAL CENTRE LTD Georges Guibert Street, Floréal, Mauritius Tel: (230) 601 2300 Fax: (230) 696 3612 (Administration) Fax: (230) 697 8795 (Admission) (230) 696 1209 (Medical) Email: clinique@cliniquedarne.com www.cliniquedarne.com www.fortishealthcare.com