What should be paid attention to during early pregnancy?
Sep 13, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
In general, the early stage of pregnancy is a critical period for fetal development. Pregnant women should pay attention to supplementing folic acid, maintaining a balanced diet, regulating作息 (作息 should be translated as "daily routine" or "lifestyle habits"), avoiding harmful substances, and undergoing regular prenatal checkups to ensure both their own health and the normal development of the fetus. In daily life, pregnant women can engage in appropriate light physical activities, which can help promote blood circulation. At the same time, maintaining a cheerful mood and avoiding excessive anxiety are also important.
Generally, the early stage of pregnancy is a critical period for fetal development. Pregnant women should pay attention to supplementing folic acid, maintaining a controlled diet, regulating作息 (rest patterns), avoiding harmful substances, and undergoing regular prenatal checkups to ensure both their own health and the normal development of the fetus. The details are as follows:
1. **Folic Acid Supplementation**: It is important to supplement folic acid during early pregnancy, as it helps prevent neural tube defects in the fetus, reducing the risk of conditions such as spina bifida and anencephaly. It is generally recommended to start supplementation three months before pregnancy and continue until three months into the pregnancy, which can be achieved through folic acid tablets or foods rich in folic acid.
2. **Diet Control**: Pregnant women should adjust their diet to ensure balanced nutrition, consuming more high-quality proteins, vitamins, and minerals. They should avoid spicy, stimulating, raw, cold, or undercooked foods to prevent gastrointestinal discomfort or bacterial infections.
3. **Regulate Rest Patterns**: During early pregnancy, women may experience fatigue and excessive sleepiness. Adequate sleep should be ensured, aiming for 8–9 hours of rest daily, avoiding staying up late. Additionally, heavy physical labor and strenuous exercise should be minimized to prevent overexertion, which could affect fetal stability.
4. **Avoid Harmful Substances**: Pregnant women should avoid tobacco and alcohol, as alcohol and nicotine can impair fetal development, potentially leading to fetal malformations or developmental delays. Furthermore, exposure to chemicals and radiation should be avoided to reduce health risks to the fetus.
5. **Regular Prenatal Checkups**: During early pregnancy, regular prenatal examinations should be conducted as advised by the physician. Ultrasound scans can confirm intrauterine pregnancy, monitor fetal development, and assess the mother's health indicators. This allows for timely awareness of maternal and fetal conditions and early detection and management of any potential issues.
In daily life, pregnant women can engage in gentle physical activities to promote blood circulation. Maintaining a cheerful mood and avoiding excessive anxiety also help create a favorable internal and external environment for fetal development.
