There is nothing more exciting than when you’re expecting a baby, but it can be equally frightening because you have so many questions about pregnancy. This compilation of tips will answer some of these questions that you have and you will be able to incorporate them into your life, right away.
If you experience any vaginal bleeding when you are pregnant, it is important that you go to your doctor or to the emergency room right away. Although it may be nothing, vaginal bleeding could be a sign that the baby is in distress, or worse, that you are having a miscarriage.
Make sure you’re changing all litter boxes for your cat in the household. While a woman is pregnant, these chemicals in a used litter box can actually cause a lot of toxic harm. Have someone else clean it, like a spouse, neighbor, or friend.
Don’t be afraid of the weight gain. You are going to gain weight. It’s not only normal but necessary. Your body needs fat reserves for breast milk, energy for labor and delivery as well as lots of extra fluids. Embrace the added weight and know that it will come off afterwards.
Do not change cat litter if you think you are pregnant. Cat litter contains bacteria that can cause toxoplasmosis in pregnant women. Cats act as host to the parasite and if a woman becomes infected, it may be passed to the growing baby and result in stillbirth or miscarriage, as well as other abnormalities.
Abstain from eating or drinking products that contain caffeine throughout the course of your pregnancy. Caffeine can cause your insomnia and make it hard for you to get the sleep that you need. If you are nauseated during the day eating crackers should help. Eating healthy can help you get enough sleep.
During your pregnancy it is important to get a full nights rest. Stress can be a major cause of not being able to sleep. If you are feeling stressed, find someone that you can talk to about the problems that you are having. Pregnancy can be a stressful thing and you should always talk about the things that are causing you stress.
Listen to soft music and take a hot shower before bed time. Sleep can become more difficult the further along that you get. Avoid sleep aids and other pills by putting your body and your mind into a restful state before you even get into bed. A hot shower and soothing music will do this for 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.
Remember that even the best-laid plans can change, including your birth plan. Try to be flexible about the details, and do not beat yourself up if everything does not happen exactly the way you envisioned it. Ultimately, you probably won’t even care that your favorite song never played or that you never made it into the birthing pool.
Educate yourself with a class on childbirth. To make sure spots in the class are open, sign up early. You might also want to go to a breastfeeding class. These classes can help take some of the mystery out of what to expect in the upcoming months.
Now that you have a deeper knowledge on the subject of pregnancy, you can relax a little bit and enjoy it. Bask in the glow of it all and then use what you have learned here to take good care of yourself and give birth to a happy, healthy baby.