Finding out you are or trying to become pregnant is one of the most stressful and rewarding chapters in a woman’s life. It represents the permanently life altering shift from being an independent adult or wife into motherhood. The stress may be unavoidable, but when you enter into this journey with some of the wisdom in this article, you can find the path far less unknown.
Learning to track your menstrual cycles are important if you are looking to conceive. Knowing your cycles helps you know the perfect times for attempting to get pregnant. This also helps you determine the likely date of conception, which assists in determining your due date.
Watch your weight even when you are pregnant. If you gain more weight than you should, you can negatively impact your own health after pregnancy. A woman weighing a typical amount should generally gain around 15-30 pounds over the course of her pregnancy.
Before you are pregnant, it is a good idea to visit your dentist. Many times during pregnancy, your gums can be very sensitive, and a dental cleaning can be bothersome. You also will not be able to get any x-rays during your pregnancy, so it’s best to get that out of the way before hand.
Try exercise classes that are designed for pregnant women. Staying active is very important during pregnancy but it is also important that you exercise safely. Going to a class that is specifically created for pregnancy means that you will gain all the benefits of the exercise without doing any damage to your growing baby.
When you are in the later stages of pregnancy, especially in your third trimester, try not to travel too much. Some women think that because their due date is a month away, they will not go into labor on the train or plane, only to find themselves delivering their child with no medical assistance.
Increase your intake of cereals, asparagus, lentils, oranges and orange juice. These foods are all rich in folic acid, which helps the development of the baby’s neural cord and creates red blood cells for your unborn child. It is ideal to begin consuming these foods even before you start trying to conceive.
When taking prenatal vitamins, ensure that the folic acid present is in the right quantity for your body’s needs. This is essential in the prevention of such conditions as spina bifida and is important in proper tissue development and formation of cells in the fetus, as well.
If you find it hard to stick to a healthy diet during pregnancy, ask your partner to join you as you change your old eating habits to new healthy ones. It is always easier to make the right choices when you have a helpful partner to support you. Both of you will see the benefit of eating more vegetables, whole grains and fruit.
Stop taking any birth control the very minute you find out that you are pregnant. If it has failed to prevent your pregnancy, you do not want to continue it while you are pregnant. It has many negative health effects on the baby and the sooner you stop, the better the chances that the baby will be fine.
Don’t leave the house without a change of clothes and a fresh pair of underwear. Pregnancy leaves us with a lot less control over our bodies and accidents can happen. It is better to act like a boy scout and be prepared than have to run home in the middle of the day because we were caught off guard.
Now that you have read up on some facts about pregnancy, you know more then you did at the beginning of the article. Keep these thoughts in mind as you consider or explore and enjoy pregnancy. Armed with this knowledge, bringing a new life into this world can also be the beginning of a new life for you.