Pregnancy can be daunting. Even though it constitutes one of the most amazing times in a woman’s life. However, many women, when approaching pregnancy for the first time, are scared that they won’t know how to handle it. This article provides tips about handling every stage of your pregnancy, from the minute you find out, right up until the minute your precious newborn enters this world.
Sleep as much as you want while you are pregnant. Sleep is in short supply for the parents of newborns. Also, while pregnant, your baby is eating up much of your available energy. Don’t be afraid to sleep in, go to bed early, or nap when you want to. You won’t be able to later!
Listen to your body. Some women will find that they need more sleep when they are pregnant, and others will find that some foods no longer agree with them. Don’t push your body to do something it clearly does not want to do. Being able to listen to what you need will help your pregnancy go a lot smoother.
Start taking a prenatal vitamin while you are trying to conceive, or as soon as you first find out about that surprise pregnancy. There are special nutrients that are needed by your baby for proper development. The sooner you start taking prenatal vitamins, the better chance your baby has of getting the nutrients he or she needs.
An additional 300 to 500 calories a day are necessary during pregnancy. The baby needs this extra nutrition, and now is certainly not the time to be counting calories. Healthy food, like fruits and vegetables, is always a great idea.
Pay attention to your body, and don’t write strange things off as simply symptoms of pregnancy. For example, swelling of the joints and face is common during pregnancy, but excessive and sudden swelling can herald pre-eclampsia. If you notice any symptoms that seem strange or haven’t been mentioned as expected by your doctor, give them a call.
Eating a series of smaller meals throughout the day is an excellent way to stave off nausea in your first trimester. Keeping your stomach with something in it will help keep those upset stomach issues at bay. Eat light, fresh foods, too. You might be surprised by the difference you feel when you eat fresh veggies, fruits and lean cuts of meat.
Your pregnancy means the decisions are yours. Just because someone in your office or a distant relative doesn’t believe that you should drink coffee or lift something heavier than 20 pounds doesn’t mean they control your pregnancy decisions. Talk to your doctor and make your decisions with them. Ignore unsolicited comments from others.
If you recently found out you’ve got a little bundle of love growing in your stomach the first advice anyone ought to offer is to take all the advice of your physician. They did not make it through med school because of good looks! Listening will help make sure your baby is its healthiest and happiest when it arrives.
Write out your birth plan and make sure your doctor and labor coach have a copy. List out what type of medications you are willing to have and in what circumstances you want to move to different laboring methods. Of course, your birth plan is only a plan and if things need to change for the safety of your labor, don’t worry and just go with it.
As shown throughout this article, knowing how to handle your pregnancy can help to ensure that it will be an amazing time in your life. A lot of the mystery and uncertainty can be taken out of the experience, just by following the easy tips provided above. This way, you will be in total control of your body, your mind, and your soul, which is exactly what a mom needs to be when getting ready to bring a new and beautiful being into the world.