Hello mom-to-be! Here’s a guide to help your foetus grow well

Pregnancy is an amazing journey that every woman is blessed to experience in her lifetime. The joy that you experience with a new tiny life growing in your womb is inexplicable. You can make wonderful memories out of this amazing journey if proper care is taken. Congratulations on this incredible blessing which takes your life to an entirely new level.

Though pregnancy is a sweet ride to welcome a new member into your family, this is quite sensitive and even a trivial negligence from mother could damage the development of the baby, thereby doing an irreparable loss to the baby in its lifetime. So, it is in the hands of the mother-to-be to protect the baby right from the moment she is conceived. 

The entire nine months of pregnancy is segregated into three trimesters. And the development of the baby and the risks involved vary from trimester to trimester. So, let us look into the factors that pose a threat to the development of the foetus. 

First trimester:

First trimester is the first three months of the pregnancy and this period is crucial for the foetal development. This is the time where the neural development and the formation of the major organs of the baby takes place. There are a few common birth defects that might occur in the first trimester such as heart defects, improper formation of brain tissues, neural defects, and facial defects such as cleft lip. These defects can be caused due to the following factors:

• Genetic issues
• Chromosomal problems
• Anaemia 
• Lack of nutritious diet
• Lack of medicines that help in the growth of the foetus. 

So, talk to your gynaecologist and get to know about the development of your foetus through scanning that usually takes place in the early stages of your first trimester. Usually, your gynaecologist prescribes you to take folic acid (400 mcg), a prenatal vitamin which helps the foetus to form well. 

By the end of the first trimester, the other body organs of the foetus begin to develop. 

Second trimester:

Now that the tiny hands and legs have popped out, it is time to take care of the growth of its organs. In your second trimester, your gynaecologist prescribes you to take iron and calcium tablets along with proper diet, which aid in the proper development of the foetus. This trimester is known as the honeymoon period of the pregnancy. Because, in this trimester the nausea, dizziness and vomiting which you experienced in the first trimester usually subside and you can cram on your favourite foods.  You can also go on a vacation with your partner as the major risks for foetus have ended.

However, apart from the risk of miscarriage in this trimester, there are few other risks involved in the second trimester which are to be taken care of. 

• Exposure to harmful chemicals can cause damage to the smooth growth of the lungs in the foetus
• Improper control of gestational diabetes, hypertension, or thyroid can be life-threatening for the foetus 
• Consumption of alcohol, cocaine usage and continuous smoking can lead to abnormalities in the foetus 
• Viral and bacterial infections can lead to improper development of the foetus

Third trimester:

n this trimester, the birth of the baby is likely to happen at any moment. So, it is important to put a hawk eye on the symptoms and movements of the baby. Though this trimester marks the end of the pregnancy, the risks involved in this trimester should not be ignored if you do not want any complications in giving birth to a healthy baby. Here are a few red flags for the foetus that exist in the third trimester: 

• Lower amniotic fluid or excess amniotic fluid in the sac can curb the normal development of the foetus
• An abnormal umbilical cord cannot pass enough nutrients and oxygen to the body and this leads to abnormalities in the body
• Chronic illnesses of the mother can prevent proper growth of the baby
• Zika infection can lead to brain defects in the baby

So, do not miss the scheduled visits to the hospitals to know the growth of your foetus. For some general queries, talk to a gynaecologist or you can even consult a gynaecologist online and always keep in touch for taking suggestions regarding the health of the baby right on time. 

By the end of your third trimester, the wait is almost over and you are all set to meet your little champ.  A happy mom makes a happy baby. So, be happy, enjoy your pregnancy, and do not miss to notice any red flags. And hey, good luck on meeting your baby. For medications and nutritional supplements, you may contact online pharmacy websites to buy medicines online with discount at doorstep delivery.