Remember, during pregnancy you are carrying another life in your hands. With that being said you want to make sure you are as informed as you can possibly be so you can nourish both, you and your child to the best of your ability. Here are some tips in this article to help you during your pregnancy.
Don’t feel bad about needing to take care of yourself. You are growing a small person inside of you and you deserve to take a break! Eat more than you usually would, because you will need those extra pounds. Take a break after dinner and let your husband do the dishes. Its those small things that will add up and make you feel much better.
Pregnant women need to keep their skin protected prior to spending time in the hot sun like everyone else. A woman’s skin is more sensitive when they are pregnant and they can easily be sunburned, which in turn, could eventually cause more serious problems like skin cancer.
Always keep a diet that has sufficient protein intake during this important phase. This is not only good for you, but also for the developing child within you. Protein-rich foods include tofu, certain types of seeds, chicken, eggs, legumes and nuts.
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.
Expecting mothers would be wise if they took the advice of taking a daily prenatal vitamin. In fact, most doctors prescribe them for expecting mothers! This is because your child has nutritional needs that often times due to the nature of pregnancy cravings are not met. This makes sure they get the nutrition they need.
When pregnant, avoid drinking excessively before you go to sleep. It is important to drink enough fluids during the day to keep you hydrated. However, you should stop drinking about two hours before going to sleep. This will help you avoid frequent trips to the bathroom when you should be sleeping.
If traveling during pregnancy, do not go to a remote location where you do not have access to immediate health care. It’s essential that you stay near good doctors at all times. Complications can arise at any time. If you’re traveling, you’ll also want to keep a cell phone with you.
Don’t drink alcohol while pregnant. Drinking any alcohol at all during pregnancy increases the risk of several birth defects and puts the baby at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause mental retardation, loss of motor skills, and other problems. Consider drinking milk or tea instead if you are used to having a drink with dinner.
Make sure to get enough folic acid during your pregnancy. Folic acid is a major component to reducing the risk of neural defects like spina bifida. Lots of foods have been fortified with folic acid so keep an eye out for those on your shopping trips. Also make sure that your prenatal vitamins include folic acid.
Keeping in mind you are dealing with not only your life but another you want to make sure you really digested all that you have learned. Pregnancy tips aren’t something you want to look over, so if you have to come back and reread this article from time to time until you feel like you remembered all the information in it, in the end you only want what’s best for you and your baby, and this article is trying to help you do that.