A Guide to Caring for Babies in the womb and their growth

As a mother, you will certainly give the best for your baby from the beginning of his life. Starting from maintaining a healthy pregnancy, giving birth with safe and smooth, untilsupport growth and development from birth to mature.

For women, the experience of getting pregnant, giving birth, and continuing to accompany the baby is an amazing and happy thing. At the same time, this is a challenge, especially for those of you who have just become mothers.

Undergoing Pregnancy and Childbirth

At the time of being declared pregnant, various feelings were mixed. Happiness, emotion, anxiety, and confusion, as if present at the same time. To be able to support healthy fetal development, you need to know the factors that affect a healthy pregnancy, such as:

• Routine check up

  Once you are declared pregnant, immediately contact the doctor. The goal is to check your content and health. Regular pregnancy checks every month are important to monitor the development of the fetus and the health of the mother during pregnancy, so that if there are disturbances, they can be addressed immediately.

• Nutritional intake

  Now, you have to pay more attention to nutritional intake from food. Besides yourself, there is already a baby in your womb who also needs nutrition. You need an additional 300 calories per day. If before pregnancy you needed 45 grams of protein, now you need 70 grams of protein. In addition, reduce the consumption of caffeine and alcohol, and stop smoking. To complete the nutritional intake, you are also advised to take supplements for pregnancy.

• Sport

  Pregnant women still need to exercise regularly. Exercise during pregnancy will increase endurance, help reduce pain, improve blood circulation in the legs, and relieve stress. Exercise in pregnant women will also help reduce physical stress during labor. In addition, exercise is effective for increasing levels of serotonin, a chemical associated with a happy mood. What needs to be considered is the type of sport chosen. Adjust to the conditions of pregnancy and consult a doctor, before starting to exercise regularly.

• Rest

  In the first trimester of pregnancy, you will usually feel tired. This is a sign that the body needs rest. Reduce all activity and increase rest. If possible, you can try to take a nap.

Before reaching the end of pregnancy, you need to think about the delivery process that will be taken. Talk to your doctor about this.

There are two methods of delivery, namely normal delivery and caesarean delivery. Normal delivery is delivery through the vagina. While Caesarean delivery is delivery by surgery, which is carried out if there are certain indications related to the safety of the mother and baby. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

Paying Attention to Nutritional Intake for Babies

After giving birth, your job is to provide the best food for the baby. Breast milk (ASI) is the best food for babies up to six months of age. From breast milk, babies get the nutrients and vitamins they need for their growth and development. Apart from being the main food, breast milk also provides other benefits, namely:

• Mprotect baby from various diseases

  Colostrum, the first fluid produced by the mother's body, has a very good effect on the baby's immune system. Colostrum forms a protective layer on the membranes of the baby's intestines, nose and throat, thereby protecting these organs from attack by germs. Some diseases in infants whose risk can be reduced by giving colostrum are ear infections, gastrointestinal infections, respiratory diseases, meningitis and cancer in children.

• Reducing the risk of babies dying at the age of under one year

  Research shows that babies who consume breast milk have a 20% lower risk of dying at the age of 28 days to one year, compared to babies who do not get breast milk. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

• Protect baby from allergies

  Breastfed babies are less likely to develop allergies than formula-fed babies. Breast milk is also believed to prevent food allergic reactions in infants.

• Increase intelligence

  Various studies show that babies who are breastfed have a higher intelligence level than those who are not breastfed. The length of time breastfeeding will also affect the intelligence level of the child. Babies born prematurely who are given breast milk will experience better mental development. However, further research is still needed on this matter.

• Prevents the risk of obesity as an adult

  This is especially true for infants who are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months. Breast milk contains less insulin, which forms fat, thereby preventing excessive weight gain. Breastfeeding can also build a healthy diet in babies.

How to breastfeed properly is also not as difficult as you might think. Here are the steps you can take to start breastfeeding:

• Lay the baby, make his position as close to your chest as possible, facing your chest.
• Bring the baby's mouth to your breast, allowing him to open his mouth. If he hasn't opened his mouth yet, touch his upper lip to get him to open his mouth.
• Keep supporting the back of the baby's neck to stay safe.

A sign of good breastfeeding is if the mother and baby both feel comfortable during breastfeeding. Proper breastfeeding does not cause nipple pain.

Accompanying the Baby's Growth and Development Period

No less important for you to pay attention to is the process and stages of baby growth and development. This is to ensure there are no health problems for the Little One.

The stages of infant development up to the age of one year, namely:

• Physical development

  In the first twelve months, the baby's physical development increases rapidly. Babies grow up fast, get tall quickly, and their head circumference increases, a sign that their brain is developing normally.

• Cognitive development

  Babies can already learn many things, such as laughing when someone invites them to joke, recognizing their parents' faces, and remembering things.

• Emotional and social development

  Babies begin to be able to show emotions, as well as show feelings for other people or things that make them angry, sad, or happy.

• Language development

  Babies begin to learn to talk, by saying words that are usually heard from their environment.

• Motor and sensory development

  This development includes sitting, crawling, and standing. There are also babies who have started to walk before the age of 1 year.

Keeping Babies Healthy

To keep the baby healthy, it is recommended that you regularly check with the doctor so that his health is monitored. During a routine checkup, the doctor will perform:

• Medical examination

  Physical examination needs special attention if complaints or symptoms arise, which may indicate the presence of a disease.

• Immunization

  The doctor will give immunizations to the baby, as well as give and monitor the immunization schedule. Immunization is very important as an effort to keep babies from getting sick.

• Monitor long length and weight

  The goal is to make sure the baby grows normally according to age. Infant weight is monitored to determine nutritional status and evaluate growth.

Got Health information from Source Trusted

During your child's growth and development, you can consult a doctor, to support your little one's growth optimally. But in this digital era, you also have the convenience of finding health information to monitor your little one's growth and development. It is important to ensure that health information comes from a trusted source, so as not to take wrong steps in providing care.

You can get information about expressions of mother's love and affection for the Little One, through the 125 “Best for Babies” videos. Here you will see how big the role of mothers as parents is, from the time your little one begins to inhabit the mother's womb until he is born and grows to be the pride of everyone.