When you’re pregnant, your placenta and the umbilical cord are your
baby's life line. A healthy placenta will ensure that your baby gets
all the nutrients and oxygen your body has to deliver and that all waste
products are removed efficiently. Considering that it has such
important duties, your placenta needs to stay healthy, attached and
functioning during your entire pregnancy.
The placenta begins to form soon after the implantation of a fertilized egg in your uterus. Until your placenta is fully developed and functioning, the corpus luteum on your ovary will produce the necessary hormones to help sustain your pregnancy.
The placenta begins to form soon after the implantation of a fertilized egg in your uterus. Until your placenta is fully developed and functioning, the corpus luteum on your ovary will produce the necessary hormones to help sustain your pregnancy.
To keep your placenta healthy, you need to first make sure that you
eat a healthy diet. You need plenty of protein from lean meats, plenty
of vegetables, fruit, dairy, whole grains and healthy fats. Protein is
especially important for proper functioning for the placenta. In
addition, you need to be properly hydrated so be sure you’re getting at
least eight glasses of water each day.
If you smoke, try to stop as quickly as you can. Or, if you drink alcohol, you should stop until after your baby is born and you have stopped breastfeeding. In addition, if you use illegal drugs – especially cocaine – stop immediately, as the chemicals in these substances can cause serious harm to the placenta. Finally, if you’re addicted to opioids, talk to your health care provider – the use of Methadone during pregnancy is usually safe.
Another important way to take care of your placenta is to take only medications that have been approved by your physician as safe for you to take. Don’t take any over the counter medications or herbal medications unless your health care provider has told you that they are OK to take. Even “natural” herbal supplements can be dangerous for your placenta.
If you smoke, try to stop as quickly as you can. Or, if you drink alcohol, you should stop until after your baby is born and you have stopped breastfeeding. In addition, if you use illegal drugs – especially cocaine – stop immediately, as the chemicals in these substances can cause serious harm to the placenta. Finally, if you’re addicted to opioids, talk to your health care provider – the use of Methadone during pregnancy is usually safe.
Another important way to take care of your placenta is to take only medications that have been approved by your physician as safe for you to take. Don’t take any over the counter medications or herbal medications unless your health care provider has told you that they are OK to take. Even “natural” herbal supplements can be dangerous for your placenta.
0 comments