Working moms-to-be have it tough—balancing baby development with career demands. Compared to stay-at-home expectant mothers, office environments pose greater challenges, making thorough prenatal preparation essential.Below, working moms-to-be can explore essential prenatal preparations. How to conceive?
Prenatal Checkups
Many working moms may neglect prenatal checkups due to busy schedules, while others skip them assuming no discomfort. Both approaches are misguided. Prenatal checkups are indispensable for every expectant mother. After conception, comprehensive and systematic prenatal examinations are crucial.Comprehensive health assessments can address certain physical deficiencies in the mother. If conditions arise where continuing the pregnancy is inadvisable, or if significant genetic disorders in the fetus are detected, early termination may be considered. Regular check-ups allow monitoring of fetal development and maternal changes, enabling timely intervention for any abnormalities. Systematic observation helps determine delivery plans, ensuring a safe birth.
Beyond routine examinations, prenatal checkups should include maternal alpha-fetoprotein testing, liver and kidney function assessments, and chest X-rays to facilitate accurate prenatal diagnosis.
The standard requirement for prenatal visits throughout pregnancy is 9-13 times. Expectant mothers with detected abnormalities should increase the frequency of prenatal visits. Examination items include height, weight, abdominal circumference, fundal height, blood pressure, external pelvic measurements, gynecological internal examination, breast examination, and prenatal clinical laboratory tests.
Prenatal visit frequency guidelines:
At least once during the first trimester;
Every 4 weeks until 27 weeks gestation;
Every 2 weeks from 28 to 35 weeks gestation;
Weekly visits after 36 weeks gestation.
Editor's note: For the health of both mother and baby, expectant mothers should prioritize prenatal visits even with demanding work schedules.Pregnant women with complications should increase the frequency of prenatal visits.
Preparing Your Hospital Bag
1. When to prepare your hospital bag
Prepare it around 35-36 weeks. At this stage, labor could begin at any time, and some women may deliver early, so advance preparation is essential.
2. What to pack in your hospital bag
【Documents】Appointment cards, prenatal care records, ID card, family planning service certificate, maternity insurance card, public medical insurance card.
【Clothing】Two sets of cotton pajamas, nursing tops, soft-soled shoes, bras.
【Food】Milk, chocolate, noodles, noodle soup, brown sugar water, congee, soup. 【Toiletries】Two basins, sanitary pads, one pack of toilet paper, 4-5 pairs of pure cotton underwear, front-opening clothing; soft-bristle toothbrush or mouthwash, face towel, toothpaste, toothbrush cup, comb.【Other】Nursing pads, nipple shields, disinfected towels.
3. What items does the baby need?
【Clothing】Two sets of pure cotton baby robes, one or two small belly bands, two square swaddling blankets, one bath towel.
【Feeding】Infant-specific soft-tip spoon, glucose solution. 【Bathing】3 small basins, 5–6 small washcloths. 【Other】Disposable diapers (newborns urinate frequently, requiring over 10 diapers daily), wet wipes (2 packs of 80 sheets each), diaper rash cream.
4. What to prepare one week before your due date
Ensure all required hospital admission documents are packed (original birth permit, copies of ID card and household register)
Pack all necessary admission items into your hospital bag
Inform family members of the bag's location
Arrange household matters
Prepare post-discharge essentials for both mother and baby
Confirm the optimal route to the hospital
Travel with an escort and report to the hospital immediately at the first sign of labor.
Prioritize rest and avoid overtime work
Statistics indicate that pregnant women with long working hours or high job stress are more prone to premature birth and low birth weight infants. Therefore, expectant mothers should ensure adequate sleep quality. As pregnancy progresses, overtime work is inadvisable to protect both maternal and fetal health. Reasonable rest breaks should also be scheduled during work hours.Amidst work demands, expectant mothers should remember these precautions:
1. Stay hydrated during work hours, especially in high-temperature environments.
2. Pause tasks every 1–2 hours to move around.
3. After 4–5 consecutive hours of work, take a 15-minute nap or rest with eyes closed.Editor's Note: Late pregnancy marks the final sprint before delivery. Rapid fetal growth places significant strain on the mother, making it advisable for expectant mothers to rest for two weeks before childbirth. Adequate rest supports smooth delivery and promotes normal postpartum milk production.