Throughout the baby’s life within the uterus, the placenta virtually acts as his digestive organs, lungs, kidneys and bowels. Bear this in mind, and you will realize why, in taking care of yourself you are taking care of your baby while his body is being built and getting itself into running order to take up life as a separate being. The full realization that whatever is good for you is good for your baby will make you eager to give yourself the care that is outlined in the next chapter.
CHAPTER V
TAKING CARE OF THE BABY BEFORE HE COMES
We shall see that taking care of your baby before he is born means taking such care of yourself throughout pregnancy, that you not only keep your own body in its usual good running order, but in addition, so effectively promote the activities of your various organs that you also keep the baby’s body going, his body that is growing all the time.
Quite reasonably this requires extra work on the part of some of your organs, particularly those concerned with digestion and the process of throwing off impurities. The latter is of the greatest possible importance for in addition to excreting the usual amount of impurities from your own body you must excrete also those thrown off by your baby. The amount of waste from him is not large but it seems to be of such a character that it harms the mother if it is not steadily excreted.
Good digestion and satisfactory excretion are dependent upon a number of factors and fortunately most of them are within your own control.
Your frame of mind is one of the most important factors of all. I know that to suggest the cultivation of a cheerful, hopeful mental attitude is easier said than done. But after all it really is largely a matter of habit which you can acquire if you set yourself to it, particularly if you realize that your physical condition will be benefited by your going through pregnancy happily. And remember that whatever is good for you is good for your baby.
Continue with the work, amusements and exercise that you are used to and enjoy, except of course such activities as the doctor may forbid. In general, try to forget that you are pregnant, so far as you can do this and still remember to take proper care of yourself.
Above all, don’t worry. Worry will interfere with your sleep and it will also upset your digestion quite as seriously as will wrong food. Try not to be too self-centered or too watchful of your symptoms, but at the same time avoid the dangerous habit of thinking that any unusual condition which develops is due to your being pregnant, for a sick pregnancy is not normal.
It will relieve you of a great deal of anxiety if you report to your doctor everything you do not understand, for the consciousness that he will know just what to do, if anything is necessary, will help to keep you from worrying.
It is important, too, for you to get rid of the depressing beliefs in connection with pregnancy that have come down to us through the ages.