One of the most beautiful moments in life is when you know that you are pregnant. Along with happiness, it brings you a little nervousness, and anxiety of how things are going to be like in the coming months. Being watchful of the changes in the body, baby’s movements, food you eat, and undergoing regular checkups is all needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy. To help you ease your pregnancy phase, here is a rundown of important do’s and don’ts that every pregnant woman should follow.
Do’s in Pregnancy
Here are a few important things that a pregnant woman should do for the best health of herself, and the baby.
Take vitamin D, and folic acid
Folic acid is essential in pregnant women as it lowers the chances of neural tube defects in the baby. It is advised to start consuming it from the date the conception to the completion of the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.
Vitamin D is another important component that you need for the sound development of healthy bones, muscles, and teeth of the baby. It aids in regulation of the amounts of phosphate, and calcium in the body.
As sunlight is the best natural source of Vitamin D, staying under the sun for a few minutes’ in a day will keep your bones healthy. Taking supplements of vitamin D can also fulfill the daily requirement of this vitamin in the body.
Stay Active
Weight gain is one of the common complaints in pregnant women. When you engage yourself in physical activities, you can keep your body weight under control and save you from low back pain, gestational diabetes, varicose veins, and shortness of breath. Consult your doctor about pregnancy friendly moves, and include them in your lifestyle.
Be mindful about what you eat
Diet holds a lot of importance during pregnancy. A well-balanced diet ensures that her body is healthy to deal with the changes that occurs inside her body. It should have the right proportion of proteins, carbs, and fats with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Always eat freshly prepared food and stay away from junk foods. Eating well prevents complications related to pregnancy such as preterm birth, preeclampsia, and high blood pressure.
Pay attention to movements of your baby
Feeling your baby’s movement is an indication of healthy pregnancy. Start monitoring their movements from week 24 onwards as the movement becomes more pronounced and stable by that time. If you find any changes in the pattern, then you should talk to your doctor at the earliest.
Sleep on your side
It is advised that pregnant women should start to sleep on their side from the start of the 3rd trimester. This position is safe for your baby’s health. On the contrary, when you sleep on the back, you can increase the chances of giving birth to a still baby.
Don’t s in pregnancy
Don’t smoke or consume drugs, and alcohol
Smoking, psychoactive substances and alcohol are all injurious for the health of you and your baby. It has been observed that women who smoke, or consume alcohol during their pregnancy deliver babies with low birth weight.
Such babies are an increased risk of getting learning disabilities. They can be affected from fetal alcohol syndrome and have higher chances to get addicted to nicotine from an early age.
Don’t consume a lot of caffeine
Several women consume caffeine in the form of tea, coffee, and other food items. These are very common in our daily lifestyle. However, it should be noted that too much of caffeine can be harmful during pregnancy. It can put your baby’s health at a risk in later years of life. There have been cases where excessive consumption of caffeine has caused miscarriage in women.
Don’t do dieting in pregnancy
Dieting is not the way to manage your increasing body weight during pregnancy. It is strictly not advised in pregnancy. Cutting out specific food groups from your diet can deprive you and your baby from the much-needed nutrition for sound growth. In place of dieting, you should focus on eating a healthy balanced meal.
Don’t consume unpasteurized milk products
Raw milk, or unpasteurized milk is harmful for expecting mothers as it can contain the bacteria called “Listeria” that can make you infected and cause miscarriage too. So, always boil the milk before you drink it.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is one of the most cherished periods in the life of a woman. These tips will provide a nurturing and healthy environment to the baby before he arrives in the world. Along with constant monitoring of your health, be happy, and enjoy the moment to the fullest.