Take the time to really enjoy your pregnancy. The nine months will seem like an eternity when you are going through it, but soon enough, you will miss that kicking in your belly. As blessed as carrying a child is, there is a lot to consider, do and deal with. This article will give you some tips on how to handle it all.
Start exercising for a healthy you and a healthy baby. Pregnancy is not an excuse to sit on the couch for nine months. Being active during pregnancy has been shown to reduce the risk of miscarriages and can help shorten the length of your labor. Keeping yourself active will go a long way towards having a smooth pregnancy.
Keep every single one of the appointments you have with your medical care provider in order to stay one step ahead of any situation that may develop. Appointments are set at specific intervals so as to monitor the development of your baby, as well as you, throughout the pregnancy. To ensure that you and your baby remain in perfect health, avoid missing appointments.
Listening to your body is almost as important as listening to your doctor. Pushing yourself too hard during pregnancy is asking too much of your body and not being fair to your baby. The boss, husband, in-laws or whoever else may be demanding of your resources need to take a back seat so that you can take care of yourself and your baby.
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.
Don’t be afraid of the weight gain. You are going to gain weight. It’s not only normal but necessary. Your body needs fat reserves for breast milk, energy for labor and delivery as well as lots of extra fluids. Embrace the added weight and know that it will come off afterwards.
During your pregnancy it is important to get a full nights rest. Stress can be a major cause of not being able to sleep. If you are feeling stressed, find someone that you can talk to about the problems that you are having. Pregnancy can be a stressful thing and you should always talk about the things that are causing you stress.
Stretch your legs back and forth if you want to reduce cramps at night. Pregnant women often wake up with “charlie horses” in their legs. Stretching can help to prevent this uncomfortable situation by relaxing the muscles.
Be prepared to lose a few extra strands of hair in the postpartum period. Many women are not aware that this is common and are alarmed when it occurs. The extra shedding is likely due to hormonal changes and should stop within a couple of months. If it continues for a long time or you are concerned, ask your doctor to check your thyroid levels.
Although it may be controversial to some, if you are pregnant it may be wise to think over your options. Sometimes you simply are not ready to have a child. With so many options ranging from abortion, to adoption, to having the child, it is in one’s best interests to think it through thoroughly, because the only person you’d end up hurting is the child.
Now that you have seen some of the ways that you can have a happier, healthier pregnancy and also prepare for your delivery, you can rest assured that these nine months will soon be a distant memory. A treasured memory though. Don’t forget to take the time to reflect on your experience.