Pregnancy is such a journey in life that presents questions. These questions you need answered to feel more comfortable about the 9 month journey you are taking, one that has so much to do with you physically and emotionally. If you want the answers you need and don’t want to stress through your pregnancy, you can use the tips provided to ensure you are going through this journey much easier.
If you are trying to get pregnant, but are not yet, start tracking your menstrual cycles. This will let you know when you are ovulating, and will also be able to tell you what date you conceived on when you find out your are pregnant. This will help you to be more accurate with your due date.
Sleep whenever you get a chance to during your pregnancy. Difficulty sleeping is one of the biggest complaints women have while pregnant. As our bodies go through these massive changes, the ease of being able to get a full night’s sleep decreases. Take naps when the opportunity presents itself.
Pack your bags early. Don’t wait until you are 37 weeks or later to finally pack your bag for the hospital. Obviously you want your baby to reach full gestation, but you never know when something is going to happen. Having your bag packed will give you peace of mind in case there is an unexpected event.
Take a childbirth class. Classes are offered in many doctors’ offices and online. Topics covered include nutrition, exercise, relaxation, epidural anesthesia, pain relief in labor, preparing for labor and childbirth, as well as breastfeeding and baby care. Classes are generally offered once a week over a six to eight week period. Studies show that couples that attend regular childbirth classes are prepared and relaxed during childbirth.
Leg cramps happen a lot in the late stages of pregnancy. Stretching before bed can help prevent night-time leg cramping. Water is a good way to fend off cramps. When accompanied with potassium, from bananas for example, plenty of water can help you avoid these pains.
Keep exercising, even after your pregnancy is over and you have your baby. Pay attention to how you feel and take it slow, but keep active as much as you can. Staying fit after birth, will help you to recover faster from the effects of the pregnancy and labor.
Learn the signs of labor so that you will know when it is time to call the doctor and start heading to the hospital. We have all heard the stories of women giving birth in the car on the way. The earlier you can respond to labor starting, the more time you give yourself to get to where you need to go.
When you are pregnant, one of the things that you will want to stop as soon as possible is smoking. Smoking can cause birth defects for your baby, so stopping immediately will limit this risk. Join support groups to increase the willpower that you will need to stop this unhealthy habit. You must also insist that people who smoke do not do so in the same room as you.
When you are pregnant, it is best to avoid or limit your caffeine intake. You can still have one cup of coffee in the morning, but no more than that. Try drinking decaff or half-caff if you can. Any caffeine that you drink will go straight to your baby and may have negative effects.
No matter who is there to support you, you just need to know the answers to all of the questions that popped into your head when you found out you were pregnant. What foods to eat and what exercises to do, as well as what tests are necessary are all things that you are thinking of right now. Hopefully the above tips answered most of your questions effectively.