Question: What precautions should be taken to prevent miscarriage?

There are a few common causes of miscarriages. They are:
* Excessive physical strain
* Carrying heavy weights
* Mental stress
* Disease of the uterus
* Strong medicine

Sometimes, miscarriage is nature’s way of liberating a deformed foetus.

Activities such as swimming, jumping, horse-riding should be avoided. Long journeys by road on bumpy and uneven terrain are equally dangerous. In short, anything involving physical strain should be avoided.

Lack of sleep and consumption of intoxicants (cigarettes, tobacco) are harmful. NO medicine should be taken without the advice of the doctor. Intercourse is not ordinarily harmful but in case of previous history of one or more miscarriages, it should be avoided in the first four months of pregnancy.

Abortion has been legalised in India. But repeated abortion may increase the chances of miscarriage.
Contagious diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhoea; any defect in the reproductive tract or cervical incompetence may sometimes cause repeated abortion.

Question: What kind of care do breasts need during pregnancy?

Care of breasts and nipples must begin during pregnancy in order to facilitate sucking. Clothes (especially brassieres and blouses) should be neither too tight nor too loose. If the nipples lie embedded within the breast, draw them out by massaging gently with the fingers. Vaseline may be applied. This makes it easy for the newborn child to suck. Any disease afflicting the breasts or skin (eg. eruptions) should be treated before the child is born.