Iba Mayale, a gynecologist and obstetrician at Galien Clinic, says his daily work involves helping patients optimize their health before, during, and after pregnancy.
This according to him, is very crucial for the health of the baby and the mother, and more importantly, increases the mother’s chances of having a healthy pregnancy journey and a healthy baby at the same time.
In addition to this, he says mothers on the other hand need to adapt to a healthy lifestyle as well as be cautious of other things that are not medical.
How to go about it
Iba notes that although the timing of one’s first prenatal care depends a lot on gynecological and health history, it's ideal or one to start the visits between 6-12 weeks of their pregnancy.
"This would include taking daily prenatal multivitamins, which can help ensure one gets the right amount of the key nutrients the baby and the mother need,” he says.
He observes that it's common for some people to omit or intentionally refuse to take these multivitamin tablets, warning that this is not advisable as it can have a negative health impact on the baby.
According to Iba, among other benefits, these tablets help prevent neural tube defects in babies when women take them before and even during early pregnancy.
Dr. Theodomir Sebazungu, a gynecologist at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) says the health of the unborn baby and that of the mother depends entirely on what you do while you are pregnant.
He adds that this is important and people should just assume that its normal routine, sticking to them is all that matters.
For instance, he mentions that the issue of exercising most pregnant women tends to take for granted, yet it comes with a lot of benefits.
He explains that regular exercises during pregnancy can improve your posture and decrease some common discomfort such as backaches and fatigue, which is common among pregnant women.
In fact, the doctor points out that there is evidence that physical activity may help prevent gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy) and build more stamina needed for labor and delivery.
"Pregnancy is a time of massive change; to your body and that o your baby as well as your whole life. For this reason, taking it easy and minding your health and that of the baby is important,” he says.
Mayale also says that when you first find out you’re pregnant, the first place to visit is the hospital, adding that that will mean that the health expert will carry out various tests which can guide one on how best they can take care of themselves.
In addition to all these, experts advise that having a balanced diet and taking enough water is important as well.
This, he says can range from consuming a good mix of vegetables, fruits, carbohydrates, grains, dairy as well as protein.
Also, he advises that for those who always crave foods that are mostly unhealthy, it's ideal to keep in moderation and strive at substituting with healthy ones instead.
When it comes to water, he says drinking at least eight glasses of water a day can help reduce dizziness and can even help with nausea, which will help keep you hydrated throughout your entire pregnancy.