Your nutrition and health is the foundation for your child to begin life. Your counselor will help you get medical care if you are not already receiving it. She will help you get Medicaid, if you qualify, without having to wait in long lines at a government office too. We’ll help you find a doctor that is caring and supportive of your adoption plan, and make sure you get good care. Your counselor will also make sure that you have resources for good healthy food, and help you with any questions you may have about good choices.
While you are technically eating for two now, the caloric needs during pregnancy only increase about 300 calories a day. So, you must make good choices with the food that you do choose. Try to avoid excesses of calories, fat, sugar, and sodium. In an ideal world you would have healthy, nutritious and delicious meals delivered to you. The reality is you probably eat fast food like most of us. These would be some of the things you will need:
* Extra calories for energy.
* Protein for your baby’s growth
* Calcium for building bones
* Iron for yours and the baby’s blood
* Zinc, Vitamin B and Foliate for cell growth
* Extra fluid to increase your blood supply
Fluids 8 glasses of water each day
Choose food high in fiber, such as bran, whole grain breads, fruits and vegetables. As well as being nutritious, they also help prevent constipation, a common complaint among pregnant women.
Try eating five small meals a day, rather than 3 large ones. This will aid in digestion and also reduce nausea and morning sickness. Your doctor will probably prescribe prenatal vitamins to supplement your diet, and they are sometimes hard on your stomach. They are very important though, and if you have not yet started prenatal care, I would advise at least starting the prenatal vitamins.
How Much Weight Will I Gain?
Depending on your pre-pregnancy weight, you should gain between 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. This is NOT a time to be dieting to lose weight. If you are overweight before pregnancy, you should gain less weight than average (between 15-25 lb.). If you were underweight, you will need to gain between 28 and 40 pounds. Your doctor will monitor your weight and give you feedback as to how you are doing.
Pregnant teenagers are still growing themselves and will need to support their own growth as well as that of their child. They may gain between 35 and 38 pounds.
Don’t wear tight-fitting clothing. Doing so can prevent adequate growth in your child. Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing and comfortable, safe shoes. Your center of gravity is affected with pregnancy, and you will be more prone to falling than before. It is very important to receive prenatal care. Doctors can monitor potential problems and help you to help your child off to the best start possible.
What is it?
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is caused by excessive alcohol use of the mother during pregnancy. Most birthmothers have been at clubs or otherwise socialized prior to finding out they were pregnant, and had alcohol. This will not cause FAS. The drinking would have needed to be excessive for FAS to occur. We also have many adoptive parents who are willing to take on the risks of alcohol and drug exposure, and we only ask that you be completely honest with us about any and all drug or alcohol use during the pregnancy. Parents who are informed can be alert for signs that problems need to be addressed. Neither your counselor nor the adoptive parents will judge you. We understand we haven’t walked a mile in your moccasins, and we don’t know what you’ve been through and why you made the choices that you did. They will understand you are making a courageous and loving choice now and will love and respect you for it. Your counselor is not your probation officer, or INS, or anything else. Everything is completely confidential between you and your counselor.
Again, we have many families who are open to drug exposure, and it is only important that you are open with your counselor about your drug use. We also know that with the stress of an unplanned pregnancy, some birthmoms are not going to be able to stop using. Again, your counselor will work wth you to keep you as healthy and safe as possible, and will not make choices and decisions for you. She is a support system for you, based on what you need. Your doctor will do a drug screen, and he would also not take action if it was positive. Most hospitals are required to contact Child Protective Sevices if a woman tests positive at the hospital, unless she is making an adoption plan. If you are positive for drugs and decide to parent, CPS will likely intervene and take the child. It is important you have good information.
Over the counter drugs are considered more safe to use, but you should always ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication. There are safe medications for you to take for colds, nausea, constipation, and pain.
Prescription medications are also available. Make sure that the physician prescribing them for you is aware that you are pregnant and take the medication as the prescription requires. Some infections will require prescription medication to control. The important thing is to communicate with your physician and follow all of his/her recommendations.
Of course it is better for your baby and you if you didn’t smoke, but we know realistically this may not be the time you’re going to quit. Your life is pretty stressful right now probably, and it’s not likely at the top of your “to do” list. The most common effect of heavy smoking is low birth weight, and that can be problematic. Your doctor will want to watch your baby’s lungs carefully during development, and again it’s important to disclose how much you’re smoking.
If you do decide to quit, face the urges one at a time. You can wait out each urge. Congratulate yourself for the wonderful thing you are doing for your child.
Your counselor will do everything in her power to help you have a safe and healthy pregnancy. She will not pressure you to make any decisions that are not right for you.
