After you give birth, your baby weight may linger for a while. You will encounter lots of challenges during your pregnancy. Stress helps you retain fat, as does sleep loss. There also won’t be much time to spend on learning about proper diet and exercise. To lose your pregnancy weight, you will need to make more lifestyle changes than you already have. These changes will, however, lead to a happier, healthier life for you and your baby.
To get better sleep while pregnant, make sure you drink less fluid before bed. Ensure you drink plenty of water, but limit the amount of fluids you drink after dinnertime. The last thing you want is to have to get up in the middle of the night and head off to the bathroom.
Make sure your oral health is solid, and continue seeing a dentist during your pregnancy. Significant dental issues, like gingivitis, often crop up during pregnancy. Make sure that you continue to brush your teeth twice a day and use dental floss along with mouthwash. See your dentist right away if you notice any irregularities or problems.
Try taking your prenatal vitamins at night. These pills, while essential for the proper growth and development of your baby, can make some mothers feel nauseous. Taking them before you lay down or with food can help your body adjust to their effects. If you need to take them during the day, try chewing gum afterwards.
If you do not yet have an OBGYN, now is the time to find one. You can set up interviews, and find one that you feel you connect with. You will be seeing this doctor often, and they may deliver your baby. Make sure you choose one that you feel extremely comfortable with and can trust.
Try babysitting a friend’s baby to get more comfortable with caring for a newborn. Having some hands on experience will help you feel more comfortable with the impending birth of your new baby. Don’t take off more than you can chew though as you get farther along in your pregnancy.
Take breastfeeding classes and bone up with some books prior to giving birth. Breastfeeding is best for baby but there can be a lot of pitfalls along the way that could sabotage your progress. Taking a class prior to having to actually breastfeed, will help you be calmer and more in control of feeding your new baby.
If it is possible, take birthing classes when you are pregnant. These classes help to educate you about what you can expect in the delivery room. Knowing these things can help make the whole labor process easier. Also, bring your spouse with you if you can so they will know what to expect.
Learn how to do pelvic tilts and use them as you get into late pregnancy. They are a lifesaver for the back pain that will start as you get further along in your pregnancy. As an extra added benefit, they also help the baby work its way into an optimum birthing position.
Change your eating habits so that you eliminate some of the junk food and fast food from your diet. When you are pregnant you will become more tired than usual, as these foods will only cause to make you more haggard. Do not give into temptations if you want to feel great.
After you make lifestyle changes, you should have better success getting rid of post-pregnancy weight. Though it may take time to adapt to your new lifestyle, you have already taken a big step. By changing yourself for the better and making sure that you’re doing everything in your power to introduce them into the world in a healthy way, you should feel a lot more happy about things.