A woman’s pregnancy affects more than just her body. Her emotions, feelings, and behaviors will likely change over the entire nine months in ways that she may or may not totally expect. Fortunately, this handpicked selection of pregnancy tips and advice represents the best and brightest of pregnancy blogs, healthcare publications, and advice from other mothers.
Get prenatal vitamins from your doctor or over the counter and make sure you take them on a regular basis. A good prenatal vitamin will take care of the needs of both you and your new baby. Make sure that your vitamin contains .4 mgs of folic acid for optimum brain development.
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.
You should start taking a prenatal supplement as soon as you decide that you want to have a baby. Your baby begins developing its neural cord, which eventually turns into the brain and spinal cord, during the first trimester of pregnancy. As soon as you conceive, it is important to get the right amount of iron, calcium and folic acid.
If you plan to go on vacation while pregnant, let your doctor know. It is a good idea to bring a brief summary of your medical records, just in case something should happen.
Ask for help with some of your daily tasks. Things that involve heavy lifting, climbing and using chemicals should be avoided when you are pregnant. They can have a negative impact on both you and your unborn baby, so do not be shy about asking your partner or other family members for assistance.
Add 300-500 calories a day to your diet while you are pregnant. Don’t forget you are eating for two so you definitely need to increase your caloric intake. Make sure however that you are adding healthy calories into your diet. Adding 500 calories of junk food isn’t going to do anything to help you and the baby.
Decide if you want to use a Douala when giving birth. If you do, start talking to some that are local. Douala’s can help you have a shorter birth, and one that is more satisfying and safe then going the traditional route. Don’t let someone talk you into doing this, it needs to be 100% up to you.
An excessive vaginal discharge during pregnancy should always be discussed with your OB/GYN. You could have a vaginal infection. These infections can be dangerous to your health and the health of your baby if left untreated.
Although weight gain is perfectly normal during pregnancy, rapid weight gain is not. If you see that you are gaining weight in a short time period (a few days or a week), you should call your doctor. This could be a sign that there is something wrong.
It seems your senses, particularly your smell, are intensified when you are pregnant. One consequence is that even the most common everyday smell can result in your feeling nauseated. If you encounter this problem frequently, dab some lemon or lavender essential oil on a handkerchief and stash it in your pocket or purse. Whenever you encounter an objectionable smell, try sniffing on the hankie to mask the odor.
You may find that pregnancy is accompanied by overwhelming developments and drastic changes. Some of these may be completely expected, but others may take you by surprise. Prepare yourself for all aspects of pregnancy by recalling the information that you just read. You never know when you will need to use it.