Finding out you are or trying to become pregnant is one of the most stressful and rewarding chapters in a woman’s life. It represents the permanently life altering shift from being an independent adult or wife into motherhood. The stress may be unavoidable, but when you enter into this journey with some of the wisdom in this article, you can find the path far less unknown.
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.
Don’t be afraid to contact your doctor if you suffer any unusual symptoms during your pregnancy. These symptoms include stomach pain, cramping, vaginal bleeding, and especially a decreased level of fetal activity. It’s difficult to tell if everything is okay from the outside, and you’re better off asking your physician to check if something seems strange.
Use your friends and family for some down home advice. Pregnancy is one of those things that everyone is happy to give you their two cents about. You have to take it all with a grain of salt, but there will be nuggets in there, that can help you have a much happier pregnancy.
Talk to your friends and family, especially those that have been pregnant, or are currently pregnant. They will be able to support you and help you if you have any questions or if you need anything. Those who have been through it before can be some of the best resources you have.
For pregnant women, make sure that you stretch your legs, before going to sleep every night. This is because many pregnant women get intense muscle cramps while they are sleeping, which could be easily prevented, if they stretch. Spend about 5 minutes flexing all of your muscles, before even climbing into bed.
If you are seeing a doctor for anything, you need to tell them that you are pregnant. Some of the tests that they perform at the doctors office can be harmful to a pregnant women, and they will skip these for you. Even if there is only a small chance you could be pregnant, you need to speak up.
Try not to wear clothing that is too tight when pregnant. This kind of clothing can actually cause your fetus to not get enough oxygen and make you uncomfortable. There are maternity jeans available for pregnant women. Also, when at home, try to wear sweatpants or pajama bottoms with a loose T-shirt.
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.
Exercising in pregnancy is good for mom and baby. The benefits include decreased risk for gestational diabetes, less complaints of constipation and back pain and a quicker recovery from birth for mom. Stop exercising and see your doctor if you have signs, such as shortness of breath, dizziness, fluid leaking, uterine contractions or vaginal bleeding.
Now that you have read up on some facts about pregnancy, you know more then you did at the beginning of the article. Keep these thoughts in mind as you consider or explore and enjoy pregnancy. Armed with this knowledge, bringing a new life into this world can also be the beginning of a new life for you.