Whether you are experiencing your first pregnancy or your third, taking care of yourself, your baby, and your family are more important than ever. These useful tips are perfect little tidbits for anyone who is pregnant or knows someone who is expecting a baby. Combined with sound medical advice from your doctor, you can use any of these tips to make the experience one to remember.
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.
If you are seeing a doctor for anything, you need to tell them that you are pregnant. Some of the tests that they perform at the doctors office can be harmful to a pregnant women, and they will skip these for you. Even if there is only a small chance you could be pregnant, you need to speak up.
Make sure you are knowledgeable about premature labor signs and when you should contact your doctor. You will, hopefully, not ever use this information. However, having knowledge will help keep you calm in the event that something happens. The earlier you take steps to deal with preterm labor, the more likely it is that a positive outcome will result.
If you’re pregnant, you should never be shy to ask for assistance in lifting heavy things. If you lift heavy items, this may lead to miscarriages or even stress on the baby, and it may result in back strain. Even if you find it an easy lift, be safe, get help.
Try to stay away from caffeinated drinks when you are pregnant. Caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea and soda can cause your blood pressure to become elevated, which can lead to serious health problems for both you and your fetus. There are a variety of different decaffeinated versions of soda, tea, and coffee.
Learn relaxation techniques and make sure to practice them at least once a day. Having some time to relax with breathing and calming exercises will help you relieve the stress that comes from pregnancy. Make sure you make time for yourself to keep you a happy mom to be.
Read other peoples birth stories. This will let you see what it is really like, and you will be able to gain some inside tips that will help. People may write about what not to do, and you will benefit learning from their mistakes. You may also learn some positive things to do that you haven’t thought of.
Eat five or six well-balanced meals every day. This will help you to get all the nutrition that you need, as well as the calories. You should not be eating junk food all day. There is no nutritional value in that, and the only thing it will do for you is put on extra pounds.
Learn to reject food from people who pressure you to eat all the time. Although your caloric intake should somewhat increase, being pregnant isn’t an excuse to pig out all the time. Telling people in a polite manner that you are not hungry right now is perfectly fine.
Any of the hand-picked tips you just read are just a small part of a healthy, happy pregnancy, whether it is your own, a friend, or family member. Following this advice is just the first step in creating a safe and smooth transition for baby’s journey from the mother’s womb into the real world.