Being healthy throughout pregnancy involves several different aspects of the life. We have formed a list of pregnancy tips on nutrition and safety that will keep you healthy throughout your pregnancy. This helpful pregnancy advice will take the best care of you as well as the baby and ensure healthy and safe prenatal development.
Take a Prenatal Vitamin
Prenatal vitamins are very much important for the sound growth of the neural cord of the baby. This cord develops into spinal cord and brain in the initial months of pregnancy. It is very important to get adequate nutrients that includes folic acid, iron, and calcium from the very beginning. Due to this reason, doctors generally prescribe these vitamins to pregnant woman to ensure healthy development.
Exercise
The next thing that you should do is to stay active. A little exercise daily can do a lot of wonders to your overall health and pregnancy. It can help in managing stress, weight, elevate mood, enhance blood circulation, and improve sleep as well. You can walk at a moderate pace for twenty to thirty minutes daily in cool, and shaded places.
Try doing some pregnancy friendly prenatal yoga stretches that will give you relief from leg cramps. Pilates, swimming, walking and yoga are a few other great activities designed for pregnant women. Pelvic tilts reduce back pain in the last trimester of pregnancy. It also helps to relieve body pain and encourage the fetus to come to the right birth position.
Consult your doctor before incorporating any new exercise in your routine. Listen to your body signs, and don’t over perform any exercise. Joining an exercise class and doing under the supervision of a trained professional is advised.
Train yourself
To prepare yourself for those critical nine months of pregnancy and after delivery, it is beneficial to join a childbirth class. A breastfeeding class will assist in preparing you to learn the skill and cope up with the discomfort related to breastfeeding.
This training ensures that you deal with the pregnancy issues effectively. Getting an opportunity to baby sit your friend’s baby will definitely help you learn about how to care a newborn.
Consult with your doctor
You need to be in frequent communication with the doctor during your pregnancy. Talk to your gynecologist about any previous complications in previous pregnancy, safety of over-the-counter medicines, supplements, and natural remedies for the treatment of common pregnancy issues that includes nausea, constipation, and heartburn. Ensure that you perform regular prenatal checkups with the doctor.
Diet
Diet is one of the most important factors that contribute to a healthy pregnancy. It is required that you talk to a dietician to help you out with a proper diet schedule. Maintaining a food diary is a good habit to ensure that you follow up with the daily requirements. To ensure proper development and functioning of baby and mother, eating an extra 300 to 500 calories per day and drinking eight to ten glasses of water are essential at this time.
Write a Birth Plan
A birth plan helps in clarifying all those things that you would need for your desired birth experience. The plan will state your preferred mode of delivery, things that wish to avoid, preferred positions for labor and birth, special type of clothing that you would like to wear, the type of music that you would want to listen, your decision to take painkiller or not and more. You need to share this plan with your practitioners and your near and dear ones who will be present with you at the time of delivery.
Practice Kegels
Kegel exercises helps to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, that in turn supports your uterus, bowels, and bladder. It makes delivery easier and prevent issues with incontinence.
Eliminate Toxins
Be wary of consumption of alcohol, tobacco, unethical drugs, etc. as it can cause buildup of toxins in the body. This can lead to miscarriage, and birth defects other problems.
Avoid some household chores
You need to bring a change in household chores that you have been doing before delivery. You need to prevent exposure to toxic and harsh chemicals, lift heavy objects, climb on ladder, stand for long duration, etc.
Track Your Weight Gain
Healthy weight gain is the indicator of healthy pregnancy. Less than adequate weight can result in low birth weight of the baby and developmental problems. It is important to consult with doctor to ensure a healthy gain of weight.
Keep stress under control
With so many bodily changes happening in the body, pregnancy can be a stressful experience. You should learn to deal with anxiety during pregnancy and post-delivery depression to ensure healthy pregnancy.
Conclusion
Every woman wishes for a healthy pregnancy. By being informed and prepared in advance will definitely keep you safe and healthy throughout the nine months of your pregnancy.