Prenatal and Postpartum Scenario

Prenatal

There are several things that a pregnant woman can do to encourage brain development while the baby is still in the womb. Some parents may feel somewhat silly talking to their baby or playing music for the baby while the baby is still inside you, but these little things can make a difference. Prenatal stimulation and proper healthy behaviors can make the baby smarter while still in the womb.

Several daily activities that 6-month women can do to help with the babies development include stop smoking, drinking, or doing drugs; eat a healthy diet and exercise; listen to music; talk to your baby; touch your belly; do relaxation exercises to avoid stress; and add fish oil to your diet. When the mother stops smoking, drinking or doing drugs during pregnancy can help with the development of the brain of the baby. Eating a healthy diet and exercising encourages the baby's brain to grow properly. Listening to music helps the baby to develop a love for music and it can increase the chance that the baby can be soothed by music once the baby is born. Babies begin to learn language in the womb so talking to the baby can also be beneficial. The more the parent talks to the baby the more the baby will learn the sound of the parent's voice and the sound of the parent's language. Touching the belly during pregnancy gives the baby a sense of safety and security. Through touch the baby will learn that the parents loving touch is there to protect them. It is also important to learn how to do relaxation exercises to avoid stress. If the mother is feeling stressed or anxious they are more likely to have a baby that is also stressed and anxious. This can happen because the mother and baby share hormones. To keep this from

happening, be sure to take time each day to do some relaxation exercises. To help your body feel

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physically and emotionally better doing prenatal yoga can help. Lastly add fish oil to your diet.

The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil, will help to encourage the growth of the baby. Try to find prenatal vitamins that include DHA to avoid the dangers of mercury that is sometimes found in fish.

Postpartum

Postpartum care for a woman is just as important as prenatal care. After giving birth a woman is very vulnerable so when they do not take care of themselves it can cause lots of other problems. Once a woman gives birth her main focus is on the new baby so all her needs get pushed to the back. When a mother has good postpartum care she is better able to care for the baby.

Postpartum care for mothers include nurturing yourself, getting plenty of sleep, eating well, exercising