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Morning sickness-check; body aches-check; constipation-check; difficulty sleeping-check. Just to name a few of the challenges that come with pregnancy, a woman goes through a lot. Even though pregnancy is such an exciting time, it is definitely filled with unknowns and comes with all sorts of questions and concerns. As per the Best Obstetrics and Gynaecology Doctors in Dubai, the biggest area of concern is how to stay healthy throughout the pregnancy and strengthen the immune system for better results.
Unfortunately, when you are pregnant, your immune system undergoes tremendous changes, and you need to take extreme care of yourself because you are not only looking after yourself but your baby as well. So, maintaining immunity should be your top concern, which will help you protect yourself and the baby from illness, toxins, and infection-causing germs.
During pregnancy, the immune system uses blood cells, antibodies, organs, and other chemical messengers to defend the body from infection. If you have been pregnant or are expecting right now, you might have noticed that everything starts to change with pregnancy, be it your hormones, body, or immune system. A lot of the symptoms and problems start from hormonal changes or fluctuations in the levels of estrogen and progesterone, which cause changes in the respiratory, cardiovascular, and immune systems, making pregnant women more susceptible to different infections.
If you have a weak immune system during pregnancy, there are several situations that might occur, like:
Whatever happens to you, happens to your child. So, if you catch an infection, it can spread to your child as well.
You will have the flu many times.
You will experience extreme tiredness and fatigue.
You will suffer from morning sickness.
Now that you know how the immune system changes during pregnancy are linked to infection and other changes, it is important to take absolute care of your health, not just for your sake but definitely for your baby’s sake. In conversation with Dr. Elsa, the Topmost Female Gynaecologist in Dubai Today we will share some tips on how you can protect and support your immune system.
Eat a balanced diet: Pregnancy causes you to crave a lot of weird food that makes your stomach full, and you end up not eating a balanced or nutritious diet. It is advised to have a proper diet that includes plenty of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, healthy fats, and other food items that give you all the essential nutrients you need. Common food items for a balanced diet include legumes, dairy products, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and more.
Take prenatal vitamins: During pregnancy or on normal days, we can't always get all the nutrients we need from food, and this is when prenatal vitamins come into play. For expecting mothers, it is highly recommended by the Best Obstetrics and Gynaecology Doctors in Dubai to consume prenatal vitamins that best support the baby’s development and treat basic symptoms. Common vitamins to take during pregnancy are folate, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, etc.
Get enough rest and sleep: How you spend your days also affects your immune system, for which it is important to take rest and get your beauty sleep, which reduces stress levels. As your body is dealing with so many things all at once, like physically, emotionally, and physiologically, try to maintain a constant sleep schedule and sleep at least eight hours a day.
Keep yourself hydrated: Make water the elixir of your life and make sure to drink at least 8 to 12 glasses of water a day without fail. It helps regulate body functions, circulate nutrients to the baby, and keep you hydrated all day long.
Lower vitamin D levels are associated with winter. It's possible that this seasonal decrease in vitamin D is the cause of the common cold this time of year.12 The immune system contains cells with vitamin D receptors.12 This implies that vitamin D is essential for immunity. Studies using cell cultures reveal that this vitamin—which is actually a hormone—has a role in the immune system.Thirteen
Zinc is well-known for its immune-boosting properties. Even a mild zinc deficiency can impair immunity and immune cell activity.14 Researchers investigated the use of zinc supplementation in the treatment of the common cold. For seven months, 200 healthy children were randomly assigned to receive either oral zinc sulphate (15 mg) or a placebo.15 When the youngsters developed a cold, their dosage was increased to 15 mg twice daily. When compared to the placebo group, the youngsters in the zinc group developed considerably fewer colds. Children in the zinc group also missed fewer days of school.
Vitamin C is one of the most well-known immune-boosting vitamins. A meta-analysis of 29 controlled trials and 11,077 people looked at the effect of at least 200 mg of vitamin C on immunity.19 According to the review, vitamin C lessens the duration and intensity of colds but not their frequency. However, vitamin C reduced the frequency of the common cold by half in five investigations of subjects subjected to physical stress from exercise training in cold northern regions.20
Pregnancy immune support may include taking an antioxidant supplement containing the substances described in this article when pregnant or trying to conceive. Each of these substances is a safe approach to keep your immune system — and your partner's — in peak condition. As always, consult your OB/Midwife.
Motherhood is the most precious experience to have, and it is advised to listen to your body and act accordingly, because being healthy and keeping fit is important, but you cannot always do anything that is too strenuous. For example, if you were not exercising before you were pregnant, why not take a step and start slowly? Go for daily walks or join an aerobics class. Take good care of your health and try to improve your immunity by following the above-mentioned points. If you are not sure about what to do or what steps to follow, just book an appointment at New Concept Clinic, a Pre-Pregnancy Care Clinic in Dubai that offers pregnancy assistance and Gynaecological Services in Dubai.
