Whether you’re looking to become pregnant or already are, you probably will still face unforeseen things during this time. Get started reading these tips and you are on the right track to a healthy pregnancy.
If you smoke, being pregnant is the greatest reason you will ever have to stop smoking so find a way to do it now! As stressful as being pregnant may be, jeopardizing the health of your baby is a million times more stressful. This is a great opportunity to get medical help to quit and have the strongest motivating factor to keep you smoke-free.
Women in the third trimester of pregnancy should sleep on their left side. Sleeping this way gives your fetus the best blood supply, and also allows blood to easily flow to your kidneys and uterus. Don’t sleep on your back, as this position is not good for blood flow.
When preparing for sleep while pregnant, set up a bedtime routine. Include activities that will relax you. Some relaxing activities are, drinking warm milk, reading a book or having a warm shower. When you are relaxed, it will be easier for you to fall asleep. Be sure that you have your routine set up so that you allow yourself enough time for sleep.
Stretch out your legs to avoid leg cramps. Many women experience painful knots at night. A few simple stretches, completed just before bedtime, can help the muscles to relax and might even lead to a peaceful eight hours of rest.
Make sure that you communicate with your partner (if you have one) about your feelings and your needs. You may know that you need to be touched or loved more often to feel supported, but they don’t. You have to tell them what you need before you can expect to receive it.
When you become pregnant, make sure to tell your boyfriend or husband as soon as possible if he does not know already. It is under your discretion as to when you should tell your parents and friends as you should only do this when you feel comfortable in revealing this information.
Help reduce morning sickness by munching on slices of cucumber. Keep cucumber slices in water in your fridge and try snacking on them throughout the day. No one is sure why it works, but for a good percentage of women it has a calming effect on their morning sickness symptoms.
Make sure to keep the windows wide open if you are doing any decorating with paint or glue during your pregnancy. Paint and wallpaper projects can release harmful fumes into your nursery. Keeping the windows open will dissipate the fumes and help you to avoid any harmful effect on your baby.
When choosing items for your hospital bag, include some of your creature comforts to make your stay more pleasant. Items like your favorite lip balm or soft socks are good to have, and don’t forget to pack a few toiletries, snacks and a change of clothes for your partner if he or she will be staying with you.
Before you begin trying to conceive a baby, visit your doctor and check to be sure your vaccinations are updated. In particular, you want to make sure that you have the rubella and varicella vaccines. Exposure to these two diseases could be detrimental to your pregnancy if you haven’t already been protected.
Pregnancy is momentous, and you have to know what you can, in order to know the symptoms and to work your way through the stress and pregnancy life. While giving birth is an amazing miracle, a bit of knowledge will make it even more positive.