Women who are planning to get pregnant or who are already pregnant should make sure they are prepared mentally and physically to have a healthy and successful pregnancy.
Women who want to be mothers have to consider they’re life circumstances and lifestyles to make sure they are ready. It’s important to have good prenatal care to make sure that your baby is healthy along with yourself. There are many ways to make sure that you are having a healthy pregnancy.
Having a baby is a beautiful thing; one of the most beautiful things, in fact.
Many women feel it is their duty to have children and some have them on accident. Others may plan their pregnancy to the very last detail and either way the process is beautiful.
Any woman who is trying to get pregnant or who is already pregnant, whether they have had issues with fertility and had a success with their treatments or one that is caught by surprise, should begin taking their health and their baby’s health seriously at the very first moment they learn of it.
Initially, you will want to visit your doctor to have them examine you for any risks or complicating factors that will affect the success of your pregnancy.
If you are healthy, then you will be required to meet once a month to have check-ups with your doctor. These doctor visits slow down as you get further along in your pregnancy. Your doctor will give you advice on any questions or concerns that you may have.
Here are some simple tips to make sure that you’re healthy and ready to get through your pregnancy:
1. Stay Hydrated
Our bodies are made up of about 70% of water and it is crucial that we keep ourselves hydrated all day. When being pregnant it is extremely important that water becomes your best friend as you will need more water than usual. You have another human growing inside of you so, to have a healthy pregnancy you must stay hydrated.
2. Get a Good Amount of Sleep
Sleep is one of the most important things for pregnant women as there will be constant fatigue of the body. You will want to rest frequently and that is okay. Sleep on your side to reduce the possibility of birth defects. Sleeping on your back is frowned upon and isn’t particularly safe for your baby.
Remember to try to stay caught up with your sleep so your body can work its magic to create your new baby. If you aren’t able to stay caught up to other life duties then try your best to rest your body as much as you can.
3. Reduce Stress
Stress has a negative effect on our bodies and is especially important for pregnant women to avoid. To have a healthy pregnancy, she needs to reduce any stress she may have to as little as possible.
Stressors can cause issues with your pregnancy and if you’re struggling to relieve stress ask your doctor about effective ways to cope or ask your friends and family to help you.
4. Exercise Daily
Exercise is especially crucial to keep your body healthy. Pregnant women should exercise frequently but it’s important to not overdo it. Don’t overexert yourself and make yourself extremely tired.
Simple exercises like yoga and stretches are good for pregnant women. Make sure to only stick to the safe pregnancy workouts that are gentle and won’t strain your body.
5. Your Diet Matters
What you eat is what your baby eats, so remember that you must watch what you put in your body. A healthy diet is extremely important for pregnant women and is important to increase fertility. You must try to stick to a folate-rich food and nutritional selections. You need to eat more rather than eating less and you will want to eat more.
Extra calories are needed to have a healthy baby and if you are very small you may need to eat even more than normal. Being overweight will have your doctor advising you to eat less.
Try to keep a well-balanced diet to keep you and your baby strong. Include leaner meats, vegetables, and fruits to help maintain your diet. Strawberries are good to keep your energy boosted and fish with omega-3 is beneficial to the healthy development of your baby.
Other nutritious foods to incorporate into your diet:
- Legumes (chickpeas, soybeans, lentils, and beans)
- Greek yogurt
- Sweet potatoes
- Eggs
- Salmon
- Greens
- Whole grains
- Avocados
6. Take Your Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are just as important as staying hydrated and eating healthy. Vitamins work to get your body the right supplements to make you a well pregnant woman.
Calcium is important to help keep your bones strong and to help the bones of your baby grow solid. Most women do not get their daily dosage of calcium and its necessary to make sure you keep up with your intake. Calcium is also in your foods, so make sure to include green vegetables and beans to your diet.
Iron is a supplement that helps the flow of getting oxygen to your red blood cells. Low iron results in lightheadedness and frequently being cold. If you want your baby to be healthy, you must keep in mind the natural vitamins needed.
7. Eliminate Alcohol
Your intake of alcohol should be close to none. It is okay to have a single glass of wine here and there, do not overdo it, and continue to drink frequently. Alcohol can result in birth defects and damage to your baby’s nervous system development during your pregnancy. Make sure to keep your body free from any toxins that will affect your baby negatively.
Alcohol is passed to your baby very easily and it something you should seriously avoid. It can stay in your baby’s system way longer than it stays in yours, so don’t harm your baby by simply wanting to have a good time. Don’t panic if you drank before knowing you were pregnant, just make it important to avoid.
8. Limit Caffeine
Caffeine is another harmful thing to avoid. Having too much caffeine can result in the risk of miscarriage. If you’re an early morning coffee drinker or enjoy sodas and energy drinks, cut them out completely to ensure the health of your pregnancy.
If it is difficult for you, try to stick to 2 cups a day and slowly decrease the amount as time goes on. You’ll eventually want to drink no more caffeine.
9. Quit Smoking
One of the most harmful things you can do while pregnant is to ingest nicotine. Smoking cigarettes expose your baby to carbon monoxide which can result in birth issues like prematurity or asthma. Birth issues can be fatal like sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which are infant deaths that can’t really be explained.
10. Educate Yourself
It is important to educate yourself about pregnancy and what comes with it. Things like when to call the doctor if you’re having issues and when it isn’t necessary. Learning about postpartum depression should be something you want to do. It is common in women after the baby is born and how it can affect you.
