Having a baby is a wonderful experience. The joy of having a new life inside of you and the anticipation of what your child will be like. There are a lot of ups and downs that go along with it too though. This article has some advice on how to get the most out of your pregnancy.
If pregnancy interferes with your ability to sleep well, it may be time to adjust your intake of liquids. After all, your bladder is under stress, too. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, however not so much at night. The last thing you want is to have to get up in the middle of the night and head off to the bathroom.
Make sure to avoid household chores that can be harmful to your unborn baby. Pregnant women should not clean with harsh chemicals, such as bleach, climb ladders, and especially should avoid cleaning a cat’s litter box. Pay attention to your surroundings and get help for any activity you think might be dangerous.
Stay away from household cleaning products when you are pregnant. Inhaling these products when you are pregnant can cause serious health problems for you and your baby. Have someone else in your home do your cleaning, or, if you have to clean, wear a protective mask over your nose and mouth.
When you are going to get any type of testing done, make sure to let the doctor know that you are expecting a child. Many chemicals and processes that you come in contact with while you are pregnant can cause adverse harm to the child or complications with your pregnancy.
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.
Although weight gain is perfectly normal during pregnancy, rapid weight gain is not. If you see that you are gaining weight in a short time period (a few days or a week), you should call your doctor. This could be a sign that there is something wrong.
If you want to wear non-maternity pants, you can use a rubber tie to hold the button and only zip the pants up as far as possible. Just pop on a big top or a maternity top that covers the top part of your slacks, and your “unbuttoned” pants won’t show! This will help you keep from buying so many maternity clothes.
Be sure to find a good prenatal vitamin. In many cases your doctor will prescribe the best one for you but you can also find them over the counter. Be sure that it has at least .4 mg of folic acid in it. You may also want to look for an additional source of iron to take while you are pregnant.
Educate yourself with a class on childbirth. Sign up early to make sure you get a spot in the class. Also, you want to take breastfeeding classes. These classes can help you understand what to expect in the days ahead.
Don’t start worrying if you aren’t “showing” your pregnancy for a while. Most new moms don’t start showing visible signs of pregnancy until they are in their 6th month. Subsequent pregnancies usually show earlier in the course of the pregnancy as the body has already been there and done that.
Taking care of yourself means taking care of your baby. There are so many things to consider, do and avoid while you are pregnant. The tips and advice presented here are meant to help you make this pregnancy one you will remember fondly as your child grows older.
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