Pregnancy is one of the most special and personal times in a woman’s life. It is full of surprise, mystery, optimism, and speculation. There’s also a dash of worry, anxiety, and wonder thrown in, just for good measure. So how does a woman work through all of these mixed feelings? Read on, to hear some of the best tips available for a pregnant woman.
Listening to your body is almost as important as listening to your doctor. Pushing yourself too hard during pregnancy is asking too much of your body and not being fair to your baby. The boss, husband, in-laws or whoever else may be demanding of your resources need to take a back seat so that you can take care of yourself and your baby.
It is important that a woman takes folic acid during the first three month’s of her pregnancy. Folic acid helps create a strong nervous system for the baby and prevents Neural Tube Defects, including Spinal Bifida and Cleft Palate. For women who do not want to take a folic acid pill, you can find it naturally in green vegetables, rice, and peas.
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.
Keep exercising. Especially in those first few months when you may not feel so great, it is even more important to discipline yourself to staying active. Go for a walk in the morning or the evening. Do some light weight lifting. This will keep you body toned during pregnancy and make losing weight after the birth much easier.
Try taking pregnancy classes early on when pregnant. This will help to explain some of the things to expect, which should eliminate some of the stress that comes from fear of the unknown. Do not be passive in the class. Take an active role and ask plenty of questions.
A pregnant mother should at all costs avoid any sort of drugs, whether they are alcohol, nicotine, or heavier drugs such as heroin. Your baby can and will develop a chemical dependency in the womb. This also is not to mention the possibility for birth defects. If you’re an expecting mom, stay away from drugs!
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.
Avoid all caffeine-containing products during pregnancy. This will keep you from sleeping well. If you are nauseated during the day eating crackers should help. A healthy diet can also help promote restful sleep.
If you experience diarrhea during your pregnancy, you must ensure that you replenish lost fluids. Diarrhea could cause dehydration, but for women who are pregnant, it could potentially bring you to the hospital, in which you will be hooked to intravenous fluids.
Pregnancy is a time like no other. A woman who is pregnant goes through a full range of emotions, from positive to negative and back again. Working through all of these emotions poses very unique challenges. In this article, we have discussed some of the best tips for handling the mixed bag of feelings that comes with being pregnant. We hope these tips will help you as you work through these unique nine months of your life.