15 Ways To Stay Healthy During Pregnancy

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healthy pregnancy tips

Becoming a mommy is a responsibility no woman should take lightly. From the moment you get pregnant with your baby, you are tasked with looking after their wellbeing. Although there are no ways to make sure that your pregnancy is a healthy one, taking care of yourself will certainly help. When you adopt a healthy lifestyle, you reduce the likelihood of pregnancy and delivery complications. Most soon-to-be moms tend to know basic health advice, but many tips are often overlooked. With that in mind, here are fifteen ways to stay healthy during your pregnancy.

1. Speak To A Doctor

Once you discover you’re pregnant, you should book an appointment with your doctor. You can register with a local maternity service online too. Organizing this essential care early means that you’ll always have the support and healthy pregnancy advice when you need it. This prenatal care will also give you an opportunity to ask any questions or address any worries that might be on your mind. New moms tend to have a lot of questions, so don’t feel like you’re asking too much.

2. Take A Prenatal Vitamin

Even when trying to conceive, it’s smart to take a prenatal vitamin. A baby’s neural cord, which turns into the spinal cord and bran, develops in the first few months of pregnancy. This is why it’s crucial that you get essential nutrients, like iron, calcium, and folic acid, from the very beginning. Although prenatal vitamins can be purchased over the counter, they can be prescribed by a doctor too. If your vitamins make you feel queasy, then try taking them after eating a light snack.

3. Attend A Childbirth Class

Women who have previously had babies assume they’ll feel ready for the delivery of their latest. However, that isn’t always true. Every pregnancy and birth is unique, with their own magical moments and unfortunate complications. Because of this, you should consider attending a childbirth class. This gives you a chance to learn more about pregnancy and infant care, as well as voice your concerns. As you attend classes, you’ll also become acquainted with the staff.

4. Keep Away From Toxins

Many toxins we encounter every day, including alcohol, tobacco, and even solvents such as nail polish remover, all have links to birth defects. Smoking cigarettes is especially dangerous, as it decreases oxygen flow to the baby, which can cause preterm birth and other problems. If you can’t quit your drinking or smoking habit, then get in touch with your doctor. They can offer support and advice, as well as refer you to a program which helps pregnant women quit.

5. Change Up The Chores

Everyday household chores can become dangerous when you’re pregnant. Any task that involves exposure to toxins or bacteria or lifting heavy objects can pose a risk, both to you and the baby. For this reason, you should ask your loved ones to lend a hand. If you’re unsure which tasks you shouldn’t be doing, then talk to your doctor. They can give you a list of chores to delegate to friends and family, like changing the kitty litter and cleaning the bathroom.

6. Use An Air Purifier

Pregnant women are highly susceptible to complications that originated from inhaling foreign particles or microbes in the air at home. Once a microbe is in the body, it can affect development and harm the baby. However, using an air purifier can help you to avoid such issues. This is because purifiers are designed to sift out microbes, which will reduce your risk of exposure. Once the baby is born, a purifier will also help to protect your little one from airborne diseases.

7. Drink Plenty Of Water

During pregnancy, your blood has to supply oxygen and essential nutrients to your baby, as well as yourself. It must also carry waste and carbon dioxide away. To be able to handle this extra activity, your blood volume increases significantly, sometimes up to fifty percent. Because of this, you have to drink more water than usual. This water also benefits your body in a number of other ways. As well as preventing hemorrhoids and swelling, water combats fatigue and headaches.

8. Give In To Cravings

We aren’t entirely sure why pregnancy cravings happen. While some experts argue that it’s a result of emotions, others believe it to be nature’s way of providing nutrients an expecting mother might be lacking. Whatever the real cause, there’s no reason why you can’t give in to your cravings. As long as you keep to a healthy diet and watch your portions, indulging now and then won’t harm you. Make sure you also avoid risky snacks, like herbal teas and soft cheeses.

9. Watch Your Weight Gain

You may well be eating for two, but that doesn’t mean you should pack on too many extra pounds. After all, doing so will only make them harder to lose later. At the same time, you shouldn’t gain too little weight during your pregnancy either. This can put your baby at risk of being a low-weight birth, which can cause developmental issues. At the start of your pregnancy, you should talk to your doctor about how much weight you should gain over the coming months.

10. Find Ways To Exercise

Daily exercise benefits pregnant women. Although you’re likely to be tired during the earlier and later stages of your pregnancy, you should aim to stay physically active. There are many amazing pregnancy workouts you could try, including swimming, pilates, and yoga. If you can find a class tailored towards pregnant women, that would be beneficial. Exercise will reduce stress and boost your mood, as well as help you to sleep better and maintain a healthy weight.

11. Get Plenty Of Rest

As important as it may be to keep active, you must ensure you get plenty of rest too. While the fatigue most women feel in the earlier stages of pregnancy is the result of hormones, tiredness in the later months is often caused by a bad night’s sleep. Laying on your side will allow you to rest more comfortably, as well as reduce pregnancy risks. You’ll also find it much easier to get a good night’s sleep if you adopt healthy sleep habits, like sticking to the same bedtime each night.

12. Try To Avoid Stress

We all feel down in the dumps now and then, especially when we’re pregnant. The trouble is, stress can be bad for a baby, which is why it’s best that you avoid it. This can be difficult to do, but friends and family are often more than willing to help. When you find yourself feeling stressed, there are a number of things you can try to boost your mood. Exercise is a known stress-buster, but people have found that drawing, listening to music, and reading helps too.

13. Wear Sunscreen Every Day

Sunscreen isn’t just for days on the beach, especially when you’re pregnant. Even when it’s cloudy outside, the sun is shining just as brightly. This means that the risks UV rays pose are just as high. When you’re pregnant, the skin is much more sensitive to sunlight, leaving you prone to sunburn and chloasma. For this reason, you must apply SPF 30 or higher each time you go outside. Covering your skin with light layers, sunglasses, and a hat is also important.

14. Look After Your Teeth

Pregnancy has many side effects, most of which women don’t know of until they experience them. Among the stranger ones is an increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay. This trouble is the result of the hormone changes you experience during pregnancy. The good news is, pregnancy itself doesn’t have to harm your teeth. As long as you practice good oral care, you can protect your pearly whites. Make sure you also attend appointments with your dentist.

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15. Shop For New Shoes

The myth that women’s feet grow during pregnancy isn’t actually a myth. As your little one grows, the extra weight will put pressure on your feet. This can cause them to swell, sometimes up to several shoe sizes higher. Rather than attempt to stuff your toes inside your old footwear, you should take a shopping trip. Make sure that you purchase a few pairs of supportive and non-restricting shoes. Even with these new kicks, however, you should still rest your feet often.

Being a new mom can be difficult. All you want is for your little one to grow up happy and healthy, but it is your responsibility to ensure that they do. This puts a lot of pressure on your shoulders. What’s important to remember is that you are not alone. Even single mothers have friends and family around them to lend a hand. You also have healthcare professionals who can offer advice and support. Caring for your baby tends to start with caring for yourself. Hopefully, with the advice above, you can stay healthy during your pregnancy and avoid any complications.

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