Women become pregnant and deliver babies. That is the way the population of the world increases. Pregnancy has been a fact of life from times immemorial. With the modern pace of society, this natural phenomenon is now regarded as some sort of disease process.

Many women find it difficult to become pregnant and require intervention. They are given medications, or the pregnancy itself is the result of an IUI (intrauterine insemination), IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) or surrogacy. Pregnancy is precious, and so is the baby.

To avoid all such problems, a few simple rules need to be followed.

Try to reach your ideal body weight ( 23xheight in metre squared) before pregnancy. Treat any diseases such as anaemia, hypertension, diabetes or thyroid problems before you try to conceive.

Start folic acid supplements as soon as you plan to have a baby and not after you become pregnant. This is a vitamin essential for the development of the brain of the unborn child. Most people do not even suspect they are pregnant till they have missed their period. Pregnancy occurs 14 days before the period starts. By the time people confirm the pregnancy, it is already a three-week-old foetus. An obstetric appointment is usually fixed sometime between 6 and 12 weeks (one-and-a-half to three months). The baby’s brain develops in the first 3-4 weeks. As you wait, you have lost the window in which the tablets need to be started.

The first check should be as soon as you realise you are pregnant or at least in the first 6-8 weeks. Certain blood tests and a scan have to be done to make sure that the baby is normal, sitting in the uterus and not in the tubes or somewhere else, and to ensure it is a single baby and not a multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets).

Eat only what you like during the pregnancy and not anything that makes you nauseous. Anxious family members may recommend certain “healthy foods”, but they can be eaten and kept down after the fifth month when you can tolerate the sight, taste and smell. Fried food emits an odour, so go and stand in the fresh air when food is being fried. Do not drink glucose. Although it feels like it provides instant energy, it will aggravate the vomiting. And do not drink aerated cola drinks.

Try to eat fresh fruit so that you get adequate fibre to prevent constipation. Do not drink fruit juice. Much of the fibre is lost in the preparation process.

Try to drink three litres of water a day. The baby grows swimming in fluid in the uterus. This will ensure that it can grow well. It will also prevent urinary tract infections in the mother.

If there is no contraindication, walk for 30 minutes in the fresh air morning and evening. It will strengthen your legs and help you to tolerate the rigours of labour. Some of the yoga foundations take antenatal yoga classes. They teach breathing and exercises to help with normal delivery.

Mix 250ml of sesame oil, 250ml of coconut oil and 100ml of castor oil. Take a small quantity of this and apply it daily to all parts of the body below the neck. It will prevent stretch marks. Once these have appeared, they are difficult to get rid of. Apply to the nipples as well so that skin becomes firm. This will prevent the cracking of the nipples while feeding.

Avoid people who smoke. The exhaled air contains cigarette smoke. As you breathe it in, it is like both you and your baby are smoking. That is very harmful.

Do not wear high heels or slippers or sandals that your feet can slip out of. Try flat-heeled rubber-soled shoes.

Avoid all medication unless it has been specifically prescribed by your doctor.

The writer has a family practice at Vellore and is the author of Staying Healthy in Modern India. If you have any questions on health issues please write to yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in