Sorie Conteh
PSY/280
August 12, 2012
Adams James
Memo
To: Pregnant and Postpartum Women
From: Developmental Psychologist
Subject: Prenatal and Postpartum Activities
Date: November 8th, 2012
Most pregnant woman imagine how their developing fetus looks like, what the developing fetus is doing at a particular point, and aspire to deliver a healthy baby. Most important, many prenatal and postpartum women are eager to know what she can do to help deliver a healthy baby and how to care for the newborn. Here are some advices and activities offered to a prenatal, postpartum, and future development of a child includes healthy foods, consumption of adequate water, exercise, medication awareness, and emotions.
One of the important factors that will positively affect the developing fetus is nutritional habit of the mother. Nutritional status with consumption of healthy food is the driving force behind attaining a healthy baby. A prenatal and postpartum woman would be advised to cultivate the habit of consuming healthy food because malnutrition in early state of pregnancy can affect the embryo’s ability to survive and poor nutrition in latter half of the pregnancy can affect the growth of the fetus. As noted in the text also that “prenatal care reduces the incidence of low birthweight, which is associated with poor nutrition, multiple births, and drug use” (Berger, 2010 p. 71). Examples of food incudes low fat milk, pasta, fruits, cereals, rice, and vegetables. Energy is needed for the ability of pregnant woman to carry the fetus, care for the newborn, and the source of the energy is from calories consumed.
According to American Pregnancy Association, good hydration is extremely important for a healthy pregnancy and postpartum period. During pregnancy blood volume will increase and water is necessary for this process. Also to create sufficient environment for fetus in the womb, which is called amniotic fluid, adequate
References: American Pregnancy Association (2012). Retrieved from: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/ Berger, K.S. (2010). Invitation to the Life Span. Retrieved from: https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/DownloadList.aspx