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& Wellness Center |
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Our
Women's Health
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The
Original Black Woman is the Mother of Civilization. She brings
forth our young, nurtures and guides them in their growth and
development. She is the helpmate and companion of the Original
Black Man, and joins him in the search for knowledge, with the
goal of living a righteous life. Her role is all encompassing
and necessary for the strength of the nation. It is imperative
she maintain her physical, mental, and spiritual health, for by
doing so, she will in turn, ensure the physical, mental, and spiritual
health of the nation. Included within this segment is an array
of information which should help get you, The Original Black Woman,
on the road to an optimum state of physical, mental, and spiritual
health, and show you how it can be maintained.
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Those
Childbearing Years
Those
Childbearing Years The childbearing years start with the onset
of menstruation, for it is a that time that pregnancy becomes
possible. The younger woman can physically have a baby, but
is usually not emotionally or economically able to enter into
parenthood or marriage. To be responsible for yourself and
a child, takes a maturity which should not be forced on the
adolescent woman through avoidable circumstances. Sexual activity
is a part of the marriage commitment and should not be considered
under any other circumstances. By foregoing this experience
until you are wed, you allow yourself to be in the best physical,
mental, emotional, spiritual, and, hopefully, economic shape
for parenting. You also ensure the presence of a partner,
to share in the parenting responsibilities, the enormous task
of rearing children. Pregnancy should be a well thought out
endeavor, not an accident, and there needs to be the opportunity
to have preconception planning and consultation. This type
of planning is necessary for the health of the mother, the
infant and the family.
Deciding the right time to have a child hinges on many things.
There is the planning for adequate hospitalization insurance,
which has maternity benefits. There are economical matters
to think of because infants have many needs which can be costly.
There is the 'emotional' right time. Are there other things
which you want or need to accomplish? Are you having a baby
because you are ready to become a mother? Is your husband
ready to become a father? Long discussions should be the norm
so that the time for starting a family is mutually agreeable
and all of the necessary questions all have answers. Healthy
mothers produce healthy babies. You should always follow a
favorable diet, and get plenty of exercise. These are the
good health habits of pregnancy as well. Before you get pregnant,
get yourself to a state of optimum physical health and maintain
that throughout the pregnancy. Stan taking prenatal vitamins
on a daily basis. Depending on your state of health before
becoming pregnant, some health care providers recommend taking
6-18 months to get your body ready to have a baby. Of course,
smoking, drinking, and the use of drugs are not to be done
in the preconception stage nor during the pregnancy. Nor are
they a part of regular health maintenance and prevention.
If you are on any regular medications, discuss their continued
use with your health care provider. Continue your normal exercise
routine and discuss when this needs to be modified during
your pregnancy. Have a complete physical examination as part
of the preconception phase and be sure to mention any genetic
predisposition's, such as sickle cell anemia, etc., which
may be a part of you and your husbands family history. Your
provider needs to be familiar with your health, the health
of the infant's father, and the health history of both families.
Optimum emotional, mental, and spiritual health cannot be
stressed too much. Pregnancy is meant to be a serene time
in your life. You are supposed to be happy and those around
you are supposed to be happy for you. Being a parent is hard
work, but filled with joy, if you are settled into spiritual,
mental and emotional calmness. Discuss your fears, etc., with
your spouse and others members of your family as well as your
health care provider. Do lots of reading about pregnancy and
parenting. Help your husband to be comfortable in his ability
to be a father. Remember, you are not alone in your concerns.
The bonds of parents during the preconception planning and
the pregnancy strengthen the marriage and the parenting roles
of you both. Seek the counsel, advise, and the company of
other women who have had, or are planning to have children.
Establish a comfortable peer network, one you both enjoy and
find informative with other couples like you both. Encourage
your husband to do the same with his male friends who are
or soon becoming fathers. This same process should be done
each time you and your husband are ready to bring another
child to your family. |
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site is not meant to be a substitute for regular visits to your
Health Care Provider, nor should it take the place of their advice.
However, it is one other source of information for you and your
family. It is advised that you see your Health Care Provider for
the evaluation and treatment of illness. The links from this site
may contain information that is not in line with the teachings of
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad and His Followers, the members of
the Seventh Family of The Nation of Islam. Unnatural birth control
and abortion are never condoned.
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