Pregnancy is an amazing adventure that can sometimes make you feel unstoppable and other times wear you out. Ups and downs are a normal part of any pregnancy and while they should be discussed with your OB are usually quite normal. To stay on track and ensure that your pregnancy is both healthy for you and your growing little one, follow the five tips below.
Maintain Regular Doctor Appointments
Having regular prenatal care is not only essential to your baby’s health but yours as well. These appointments are used to track the development of the baby and address any issues that you may have during the pregnancy, such as blood pressure concerns and gestational diabetes. These appointments are also necessary to answer any questions that you may have about your pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum phases.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Diet is important during pregnancy. Your growing baby will need a certain amount of nutrients each day and will be absorbing them from you. Maintaining a healthy diet will ensure that they are getting enough nutrition without depleting yours. Even with a healthy diet, you will want to regularly take a prenatal vitamin along with iron pills if your doctor detects an iron deficiency. Prenatal vitamins provide vitamins that will aid in your baby’s growth as well as development. Additionally, a healthy diet will help you to maintain proper weight gain making it easier to lose postpartum.
Avoid Things That Could be Dangerous to Your Pregnancy
While adding nutrition is vital to a healthy pregnancy, it is equally important to avoid certain dangerous items. During your pregnancy, you will want to avoid:
- Cigarette smoke
- Prescription drugs
- Over-the-counter medication that is not approved for pregnancy
- Alcohol
- Illicit drugs
- Raw or undercooked meat
- Foods with a high level of mercury
Pregnancy can cause extreme fatigue and for a good reason. Creating a human life takes an enormous amount of energy. When you are tired during pregnancy, it is important to rest and try not to overdo. The need to do it all, that many women experience while pregnant, can lead them to become overstressed and potentially cause complications with their pregnancy. You will also want to make sure that you’re getting proper rest at night. Your nighttime sleep is the time when your body repairs itself, so getting too little sleep can cause you to become rundown.
Exercise
It is important to remember that pregnancy is not the time to start a new exercise program, but you do want to get regular exercise during your pregnancy. If you were not following an exercise program before pregnancy, limit your exercise to low impact cardio such as walking or riding a stationary bike. You may also want to incorporate some stretching to help relieve muscles aches and pains. If you exercised regularly before pregnancy, it is ok to maintain your current routines until it becomes uncomfortable to do so.
If you are pregnant or trying to conceive and want to know more about how to have a healthy pregnancy, contact OB/GYN of WNY for an appointment today!