No matter if this is your very first pregnancy or your third, you’ll find tips here to help you. Every person and every pregnancy is different. Therefore, it is important to get all the information that you need.
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!
Talk with your doctor before planning any travel. If you do travel, make sure you carry along with you all your prenatal medical records, so you are prepared.
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.
Sleeping can become increasingly difficult as you get towards the end of your pregnancy. Find a great body pillow or maternity pillow that works for you. These are designed to give you the full body support that you need as you sleep. You will wake up less often and have less pain in the morning.
Do not change your cat’s litter when pregnant. You could get toxoplasmosis from changing a litter box. Cats are a host for the toxoplasmosis life cycle, and if the infection is passed to the fetus, the consequences in pregnant women can lead to miscarriage, birth abnormalities and stillbirth.
Pregnant women want to do everything they can to keep their newborn baby safe. Taking folic acid is very important for a baby’s development and should be taken especially during the first trimester. Folic acid ensures proper brain and spinal cord formation. The recommended dose for pregnant women is a thousand micrograms each day.
Leg cramps are a common issue for pregnant women. This is normal but can be avoided by stretching before bed. Also, be sure to stay well hydrated and eat bananas for the potassium they contain. Both these tips will help avoid leg cramps.
When you are pregnant, one of the things that you will want to stop as soon as possible is smoking. Smoking can cause birth defects for your baby, so stopping immediately will limit this risk. Join support groups to increase the willpower that you will need to stop this unhealthy habit. You must also insist that people who smoke do not do so in the same room as you.
If you experience symptoms like blurred vision, pain in your right side, frequent headaches, very rapid weight gain, or cola-colored urine in the second half of your pregnancy, report them to your doctor immediately. You may be developing preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related condition that can be life-threatening. Your doctor may need to perform tests to check for protein in your urine, and your blood pressure will be closely monitored.
Although it can be fun, when decorating your baby’s nursery avoid painting or putting up wallpaper while you are pregnant to avoid the harmful fumes. Have your partner or some friends to take care of those jobs, and stay out of the room until the paint or wallpaper glue dries and the room is fume-free.
There is a lot of information available to expecting mothers, and processing everything can be overwhelming. Although some of the issues outlined in the above article might not be an issue during your current pregnancy, it is possible that you will experience them during future pregnancies. Enjoying your pregnancy is important, so be sure to find out everything you can.