The New Mom Connection
The Mom Care Guide
By Ann Douglas
Who’s taking care of you while you’re busy taking care of that new baby? It had better be you, Mom! Here’s a checklist of important health routines and checkups you won’t want to ignore.
DO A CHECKUP CHECK-IN. Talk to your family doctor to see how often you should have a physical examination, given your age, your overall health, personal health history, and family health history. Here are the key health checks your doctor will want to do to ensure that you’re still in excellent physical condition.
- Breast exam (annually)
- Pelvic exam/Pap test (annually) Note: Some physicians will suggest that you drop to a “once every three years” schedule for your Pap test once you have had three normal pap test results. To ensure the most accurate result possible on your Pap test, you should refrain from having sex or using birth control creams or jellies for 48 hours before the test.
- Blood pressure check (every two to there years)
- Height and weight check (every two to three years)
- Physical exam to look for signs of any developing cancers (e.g., thyroid, lymph nodes, ovaries, and skin) (every two to three years)
- Immunization updates (e.g., rubella) (as needed)
- Tetanus shot (every ten years)
- Flu shot (if you are a good candidate for the flu shot) (annually)
Your checkup should also include general lifestyle counseling—e.g. a frank discussion about such issues as nutrition, exercise, alcohol and tobacco use, and your sexual health.
GET THE TOOTH TRUTH. While you’re getting the lowdown about checkups, touch base with your dentist to find out how often you should be going in for your oral health checkup and cleaning. According to the Canadian Dental Association, your dentist should factor in how often your floss and brush; whether you smoke; whether you have a history of cavities and/or gum disease; how well you eat; and the quality of your overall health in determining the frequency of your checkups.
SEE THE EYE DOCTOR, TOO. Have your eyes checked at least once every two years. This way, your eye doctor will be able to pick up on any early symptoms of such eye diseases as glaucoma and diabetic eye disease—something that reduces your risk for permanent vision loss. And if your eye glass prescription needs tweaking, your eye doctor will be able to take care of that, too.
PUT THE BRAKES ON DRIVE-THRU DINING. Don’t treat the drive-thru like a refrigerator. If you’re in the habit of making healthy breakfasts and lunches for your kids, and then relying on the local fast-food drive-thru to feed yourself, it’s time to start putting the same care into meeting your own nutritional needs as you put into feeding your kids. Get up 15 minutes earlier and take the time to prepare yourself a healthy breakfast and a healthy bag lunch rather than relying on the drive-thru special du jour. (Hint: Buy ready-to-eat fruit and vegetables that are already washed and cleaned if you’re looking for a quick but healthy, fast-food alternative.)
TAKE TIME TO WORK OUT. Treat your workout like the important commitment that it is—an appointment with yourself to meet your health and fitness goals. Besides, you won’t be doing your family any favors if you’re constantly sacrificing your workout plans. They’ll be missing out on a healthier—and happier—you.
BUTT OUT. If you’re still smoking, get serious about kicking the habit. Being smoke-free is one of the greatest health gifts you can give yourself and your baby. If you’re not sure how to go about breaking your cigarette habit, get in touch with your local health unit.
HIT THE BOTTLE—THE WATER BOTTLE, THAT IS. Health professionals recommend that you consume eight 8 oz. glasses of water each day—more if the weather’s hot, you’re consuming caffeinated or alcoholic beverages (you need an extra glass or water to make up for each of these beverages you consume), or if you’re working out (which, of course, you should be). Failing to consume enough water can lead to dehydration, which can, in turn, trigger such complaints as constipation and headaches. It can even cause your skin to become dry, flaky and dehydrated.
BE A HOT SHOT. Think immunizations are just for kids? Think again. Booster shots are required to maintain life-long immunity against such diseases as tetanus and diphtheria. And, what’s more, if you didn’t receive the full roster of immunizations as a child, you may be at risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases as an adult unless you catch up on the missing vaccines now. There are some additional reasons why you may want to roll up your sleeve and stick out your arm, of course: to protect yourself against the flu and to protect yourself against diseases that are common in other parts of the world, should you be planning a trip to a foreign country. (Be sure to visit a travel health clinic six to eight weeks ahead of time so that you can obtain the necessary vaccines.)
LEARN HOW TO MANAGE STRESS. Since you’re unlikely to find yourself living in a stress-free universe anytime soon (at least not while your kids are little!) you may as well master some strategies for combating stress. Whether it’s jogging around the block with your baby in the stroller, venting to your best friend over the phone, or settling into a warm, sudsy bath at the end of the day, you’ll want to have a few stress management tricks up your sleeve to help you get through the less-than-great days in the motherhood trenches.
Ann Douglas is the author of Sleep Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler: The Ultimate No-Worry Guide for Each Age and Stage, Mealtime Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler: The Mother of All Pregnancy Books, The Mother of All Baby Books, The Mother of All Pregnancy Organizers, and numerous other pregnancy and parenting books. Visit www.having-a-baby.com to find out more about Ann and her books.