Keeping yourself and your baby healthy over the course of nine months is, of course, the number one priority of your pregnancy. However, finding the best ways to accomplish this can be confusing. Read this article for some ideas to help you maintain your health, and that of your unborn child, during your pregnancy.

Always use sunscreen when pregnant. Stay away from tanning beds, as well. Since pregnancy results in a woman’s skin being more sensitive, you elevate your chances of getting sunburn. If you do use a sunscreen, make sure it does not contain any chemicals that will put your baby at risk.

During one of your first meetings with your OB/GYN, you will be prescribed a prenatal vitamin. You need to take these daily. This provides you with nutrients that your regular diet may be lacking, and will promote the healthy growth of your baby in your womb.

Use a doula. A doula is a woman who is trained in coaching births. They are a wealth of information on pregnancy, as well as a calming presence. They can assist your partner in being the best birth coach they can, and it gives you the comfort of having someone who is very experienced in the room with you.

Check out the hospital ahead of your delivery. Go on a tour and talk to staff. This will help you relax and get answers to many of your questions. This is a great thing for the father to do. He will probably be the main communicator at the hospital anyway.

Always remember your partner or spouse while you’re pregnant. More than likely, they are feeling just as nervous about the baby as you are, and they probably need reassurance, too. Take the time to have special “couple time” together, and cherish your time together before the baby arrives and turns your world upside down. Enjoy this one-on-one time as much as possible before it is no more!

Most birthing centers will be happy to give you a tour of their facilities, so be sure to take advantage of this. You will be able to focus more on the labor itself when you aren’t stressing about the surroundings you are in. Check around to find the place that most fits your needs. Make sure the facilities will work for you and anyone who may be with you while you’re in labor.

It is important that you are able to recognize if you are in premature labor, so familiarize yourself with the signs. Reading up on all of the possible events of pregnancy can help you feel more in control and better equipped to do the right thing if something goes wrong.

If you have a medical condition or a cold, try to use non-medical treatments. Your baby can be harmed by certain over-the-counter medication. Look online for natural remedies that can relieve issues like constipation, nausea, and heartburn. Your doctor may also have some advice to give you as well.

Leg cramps happen a lot in the late stages of pregnancy. Stretching before bed can lessen the frequency and severity of the cramps. Getting sufficient hydration is also key to warding off cramps, just as increased potassium will also help.

Always tell your physician about any changes you experience during your pregnancy, even something as seemingly minor as swollen feet. Excessive swelling may also be a symptom of a more serious condition called preeclampsia, which is a major cause of high blood pressure in pregnancy. Preeclampsia must be treated right away to make sure that you will have a healthy baby and an uncomplicated delivery.

Learn the word “no” for those who want to stuff you with food when they see you. You need more calories during pregnancy, but not too many. Politely tell people when you have already eaten enough, and don’t let them pressure you into overeating.

Tell your doctor if you start to experience a high level of vaginal discharge. You could have a vaginal infection, which is common during pregnancy. However, if it isn’t treated, it can become a serious problem.

Don’t sit down for extended intervals. Your feet and ankles may swell as the day goes on, becoming very uncomfortable. The reason that pregnant women experience swelling while at rest is because of the poor circulation throughout the legs and feet. If you sit for a long time, you may experience increased problems with swelling. There are a few ways to reduce swelling, such as sleeping on your left, soaking your feet in a bowl of cold water and avoiding tight socks.

Try looking at stories about birth on the Internet to see what it will be like to deliver a child. You can learn a lot from your doctors and nurses, but the best resources are the stories of others that have been there before. Review multiple stories and you are sure to gain a sense of confidence.

At the end of a long day, reduce the occurrence of muscle cramps by stretching before bed. Pregnancy often creates additional muscle strain, which frequently results in leg cramps. Stretching before sleeping makes the muscles relax and lowers the chance that they cramp during the night. Not only will stretching ease your muscles, but it will also help you sleep better.

Folic Acid

Don’t forget to floss and brush daily during your pregnancy. This is important whether you are pregnant or not. Pregnant women need to care for their teeth especially, though. Flossing will help reduce the chance for certain mouth diseases while pregnant. If your teeth are not properly cared for, these problems may get worse. They won’t be as much of a problem if you floss and brush twice daily.

Ensure that you are taking a prenatal vitamin that contains sufficient quantities of folic acid during your pregnancy. Folic acid is integral to prevention of neural tube issues. The cell and tissue development of the fetus depends on folic acid also.

You should definitely not be smoking while pregnant. Many things can go wrong with your pregnancy if you smoke during it. Smoking while pregnant can lead to devastating effects for both you and your baby. Ectopic pregnancy rates are higher in smokers. Miscarriages are more common among women who smoke during their pregnancies. Premature delivery and birth defects are also at a higher risk.

Even before your child is born, you should start speaking to it. It has been proven that babies are able to sense a human’s touch from as early as 10 weeks into gestation. In a few more weeks, your baby will have the ability to react to light and hear your voice. Speaking to your child can enhance your bond.

Call your doctor or midwife if you believe that your water has broken. Many women aren’t exactly sure what to do in this situation, but in order to decrease the chances of an infection the baby must be out in a certain amount of time.

Get in the habit of doing belly massages starting around the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy. You should place a few pillows behind you, and sit at a comfortable angle on the couch or your bed. Use oil, not lotion, and massage your belly using light pressure. While you do this, play some relaxing music and take deep breaths. This helps keep you relaxing, and it is soothing to your baby.

Write in a pregnancy diary. A pregnancy journal can be a wonderful gift to your child that lets them know that they were loved even before they were born. In this journal you can write down every thought you may have regarding your pregnancy, and even your hopes and dreams for your child. A pregnancy journal can be a wonderful keepsake to give to your child one day.

Skin is pretty stretchy, but that doesn’t mean it can stretch infinitely. It’s perfectly normal for your belly to become itchy as it expands. Avoid taking a hot shower or bath to try to soothe your skin. The hot water takes away the skin’s natural oils, making it itch more. See to it that you moisturize using something heavy like petroleum jelly or cocoa butter. You should wear clothing that fits loosely and be sure not to scratch!

Do you own a cat? If you are pregnant, you should not deal with a cat’s litter box. Have someone else do it. Cat feces can contain a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis in humans. This can cause miscarriage or kill your baby upon delivery. Also avoid under-cooked meats that can also contain this harmful parasite.

To avoid pain while sleeping, do a set of stretches prior to getting in bed. When pregnant you can constantly be on the receiving end of leg cramps due to the extra strain your muscles receive from the weight gain. By stretching your muscles, you will help them relax which will result in less cramps throughout the night. You will also sleep better!

Some foods could be harmful for your baby. Raw seafood, unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses should be on that list.

Morning Sickness

Most pregnant women have morning sickness. When you are strongly affected by morning sickness, you can do several things to make yourself feel better. Try eating a number of small, frequent meals; never let yourself feel hungry. Drinking plenty of fluids will ease the nausea and keep you from becoming dehydrated. Never take prenatal vitamins on an empty stomach. Instead, take them with food and plenty of water. If you notice a particular food does not sit well with you, then do not eat it. Your well being is affected by your level of exhaustion, so take whatever time you need to get the rest your body requires.

In the article above, there were many tips to help keep your baby, as well as yourself, healthy during your pregnancy. Conflicting information abounds on the subject of pregnancy, but following the helpful advice given, will allow you to be confident in the health and care that you and your baby receive throughout your journey.

 

Having a hard time getting pregnant? If so, we HIGHLY recommend the book, Pregnancy Miracle by Lisa Olson. Lisa is an author, researcher, nutritionist and health consultant who dedicated her life to creating the ultimate pregnancy solution guaranteed to permanently reverse the root of infertility, help you get pregnant quickly and naturally and dramatically improve the overall quality of your life, without the use prescription medication and without any surgical procedures.

Learn more by visiting her website here

 

Tags: folic acid, morning sickness, prenatal vitamin, yourself feel