When you’re pregnant, you can experience a lot of stress. Most mothers want to be healthy during pregnancy and do what they can to avoid any complications. To better the chances of a healthy pregnancy, you must become properly educated. This article has some wonderful pregnancy advice for you.
Quit smoking as soon as you find out that you’re pregnant, and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke. The dangers of cigarette smoke to your baby are so extensive that it is absolutely worth the stress of trying to quit during your pregnancy. The sooner you quit the less extensive the damage will be.
It is important that pregnant women make a labor plan before the big day comes. This is because when a woman is in labor, she may not be able to make decisions like she normally does. Make sure you have a bag packed, pick out who you want in the room when you give birth and make a list of phone numbers so your spouse or other family members can call your loved ones when the baby is born.
Keep a record of how much weight you gain. Pregnant women are going to gain weight, but too much can be difficult to lose after the baby is born. On the other hand, not gaining the correct amount of weight can be dangerous for the baby’s development. Knowing what your weight is from week to week can help you make sure that you are on track for a healthy pregnancy.
It is important that a woman takes folic acid during the first three month’s of her pregnancy. Folic acid helps create a strong nervous system for the baby and prevents Neural Tube Defects, including Spinal Bifida and Cleft Palate. For women who do not want to take a folic acid pill, you can find it naturally in green vegetables, rice, and peas.
Keep your water intake to six to eight full glasses of water a day. Try keeping a large water bottle with you at all times and fill it up when it empties. As we know, water is incredibly important to keeping our bodies healthy and it becomes even more important when we are drinking for two.
Do not skip your prenatal appointments. Every appointment that you have is a chance for your doctor or midwife to identify any issues while it is early enough to do something about it. Make your appointments your highest priority and do not allow anything to make you skip them.
Those who travel while pregnant should stay away from places that are far away from medical care. You do not want to stray to far from a doctor in case any emergency or complications should arise. Also carry a cell phone with local reception if you are traveling out of the country, as this will help you to get care if need be.
Try swimming more frequently as your pregnancy goes on. Swimming is something that can really help you out later in your pregnancy because it keeps you active while easing some of the pain you may feel later in your pregnancy. You probably feel like you weigh as much as a whale during your pregnancy, but swimming can make you feel weightless, which is an incredible, soothing feeling.
As was stated in the beginning of this article, it is very important for pregnant women to educate themselves so that they know how to properly care for both themselves and their baby throughout the course of their pregnancy. Use the advice given here to help you make sure your pregnancy and delivery is healthy.