If you’re pregnant or trying for a baby then there’s so much you can do to help things go as well as they can. We are here to help at New Life Chiropractic in Fort Wayne, In.

Every parent wants to be the best parent they can be, right!?   But to give your baby the best possible start in life, you’ll want to make sure that you are physically and mentally ready for the pregnancy, the birth and those early weeks of adjusting to being a parent.

All too often, however, parents-to-be can feel overwhelmed by all the advice about what they should or shouldn’t be doing to prepare for the birth of their baby.  Let’s face it, there’s a ton of information out there which can sometimes make it hard to know what to do.

Let’s take a look at the facts, and some top tips on what you really can do to help everything work out for the best.

Natural Birth v C-Section

OK, so we’ll start by tackling the elephant in the room…..

Here in the U.S around 32% of babies are born by C-section[1].  Of course, some of these interventions are the result of emergency situations which make them medically necessary.  In such cases there is no doubt that C-sections save lives.

But let’s face it, a C-Section rate of 32% suggests that we’re opting for a surgical delivery more often than is necessary to save lives.  In fact, an analysis of births around the world[2] published in The Journal of the American Medical Association in 2015 reckoned that a C-section rate of around 19% would hit the sweet spot for what’s needed to actually achieve the best outcome for mother and baby.

The evidence shows that in cases where there are no complications, a natural birth is safer for both mother and baby[3]. It looks as though here in the U.S. too many C-sections are being done because of hospital policy, fear of medical negligence claims, or even worse, convenience because it suits our lifestyles/work schedules.

Risks

Although there are many who would prefer to go under anaesthesia and opt for having their child born by C-section, it’s important to be aware of what risks are not only possible, but even common.  After all, if you knew what the risks to a mother having a Cesarean included[4], it might make you rethink your decision :-

• infection
• injury to internal organs (such as bowel or bladder)
• increased risk of future pregnancy complications
• reactions to the anesthesia
• longer recovery times

For the baby, risks include[5]:-

• being cut
• suffering breathing difficulties immediately after birth
• higher risk of developing childhood asthma [6]
• greater risk of obesity[7] in later life (possibly because of missing out on a dose of good bacteria which a baby passing through the birth canal would get).

Remember - in some cases a C-section IS medically necessary, but it should occur less commonly than you might expect.

A healthy, natural pregnancy

So what can you do to ensure that your pregnancy is as healthy as possible for you and your baby, while  minimizing the risk of complications?

• Get healthy before you conceive

If you’re planning to have a baby then it only makes sense that you should be healthy first;  perhaps you should be getting your fitness levels up to scratch long before the pregnancy test indicator turns blue.  Now we’re not advocating running marathons here, just making sure that you’re eating healthily, exercising, cutting out alcohol and quitting smoking.

Don’t forget, most women don’t find out they’re pregnant until the developing baby is a few weeks old.  If you’ve been drinking heavily, and eating trash during this time, that’s not getting things off to a great start.  In other words if you’re planning on having a baby at any time, you’d likely find it wise to live a lifestyle that supports the health needed to ensure great health for you and the developing baby.

• Go along to pre-natal classes

Once you know you’re pregnant, find out about good pre-natal classes in your area.  They’ll be an invaluable source for advice on breathing exercises for labor, and on what to expect in general, and are a great way of meeting other moms-to-be in your area that can form an invaluable support network for those early days after the birth.

• Eat a natural, healthy diet

Now is the time to ditch the junk food if you haven’t already.  Avoid processed food with its artificial additives and high sugar content.  Eat plenty of fruit and veg, especially leafy greens, such as spinach and broccoli which are rich in folate, essential for your baby’s development.  If you’re not getting enough folate from your diet, talk to your health professionals about taking folic acid supplements.  Be sure to wash all fruit and vegetables thoroughly to remove any chemicals or foreign matter.

Make sure you eat healthy proteins every day, such as eggs, nuts, grass-fed beef and poultry.

Some foods, such as undercooked meat or eggs, unpasteurized cheese, alcohol and coffee need to be avoided during pregnancy.

• Exercise - yes or no?

Don’t use being pregnant as an excuse to stop taking exercise.  Speak to your health professionals about what kind of exercise might harm your baby, but regular, gentle activities such as walking and swimming are just right.

• Listen to what your body is telling you

Now is a key time to listen to what your body is trying to tell you.  In early pregnancy, many women feel surprisingly exhausted.  If this is the case with you, get plenty of rest.  Pace yourself, and accept any help that’s offered.

You may also find that certain smells make you feel nauseous.  This could be your body’s way of telling you to avoid some chemical cleaning and cosmetic products or to avoid particular foods.  Switch to products with natural ingredients and avoid any food which increases your feelings of nausea.

Eating small, regular snacks can help during the early stages of pregnancy.

• Prepare yourself mentally

It’s a known fact that if we approach childbirth with a sense of ignorance and fear it’s more likely to be a less-than-positive experience.  So much of what we think of as “pain” is really the fear of pain. Thinking of labor “pains” simply as muscle contractions which are helping the baby along can turn the experience of birth into something much less frightening.  Educate yourself about what to expect from pregnancy and childbirth.  Pre-natal classes should help with this.

No two births are alike

Every birth is a personal journey for mother and baby.  No two births are quite the same.  Whatever kind of pregnancy and birth you experience, if you have prepared your mind and body as best you can then you’ll know that you did everything possible to make the journey the best that it possibly could be.

In addition to all the previously mentioned tips, if you’re not already under regular chiropractic care, you may want to consider it.  Chiropractic is a great way to ensure that your body is functioning and healing at its best, and has been shown to greatly benefit both mom and developing baby.

• [1] https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr66/nvsr66_01.pdf
• [2] http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2473490
• [3] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/31/caesarean-health-risks-c-section-first-time-mothers
• [4] http://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/cesarean-risks/
• [5] https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/rcog-release-choosing-to-have-a-caesarean-section/
• [6] http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/868621
• [7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/behindtheheadlines/news/2016-09-07-c-section-babies-more-likely-to-grow-up-obese/