Unfortunately, babies don’t come with an owner’s manual, and that extends to pregnancy issues as well. There are a huge number of things that need to be done to both keep the baby safe during pregnancy and prepare for the baby’s eventual birth. Follow these tips to make your pregnancy a snap.
Don’t be ashamed to not want to go out with people when you’re dealing with pregnancy. Others in your social circle are likely to understand pregnancy and the toll it can take on your body. During pregnancy you may feel fatigued and nauseous. If you do not feel well, do not demand so much of yourself.
Write a birth plan early in your pregnancy. Keep a list of the things you absolutely want to have happen, like the presence of an older sibling, and things you absolutely don’t want unless it begins to affect the safety of the baby. If you have these things written down ahead of time, you can discuss them with your birth team and make sure they happen.
Make sure your diet reflects the right nutrients and vitamins for your baby and you. If you were used to eating fast food or making unhealthy nutritional choices on a regular basis, you absolutely need to change these habits. Eat healthy foods such as lean proteins along with fruits and vegetables.
Take prenatal vitamins, even prior to becoming pregnant. During your first trimester, your baby is developing the neural tube cord, which will become the spinal cord and brain. Starting right at conception, it’s very important you get the required amounts of nutrients, including iron, calcium and folic acid.
For first time mothers, babysit for a family member or friend. It never hurts to learn more about how to care of a baby before yours is brought into the world. In addition of learning how to care for a baby, you will know how to properly hold and feed yours.
Let yourself be pampered. Especially in the last few months you will probably be very uncomfortable. Check with your local massage parlors and day spas. Many of them will offer pregnancy massages that are designed for your needs. If you are past your due date some of them may actually be able to use pressure points to induce labor.
If you have never had a baby before, find women you can talk to about the experience. Most moms are more than happy to give you all the little details of their birth experience. This will help to answer your questions and gain a better understanding of the process.
As soon as you feel contractions, call your doctor or go to your hospital right away, even if you have had false labor pains before. You do not want to be in labor at home and give birth without having the proper medical care for you and your newborn child.
It is a wise idea to be tested for any potential sexually transmitted diseases when you are pregnant. If you leave these diseases untreated, your baby may be prone to some serious issues because of them. It is possible to test for STDs in a variety of ways, including pap smears, urine tests, and blood tests. If you discover that you have an STD, your doctor may recommend you have a C-Section.
Pregnancy is a tough time. You need to take care of tons of different responsibilities in a tight time frame. Putting the tips you just read into practice will help you sort out that dizzying array of recommendations and requirements in order and help you take the actions you need to take in order to have a healthy, happy baby.