Pregnancy is a miraculous time for your body, but it can be hard on it too.
We’d like to share with you some tips for taking care of yourself and your unborn baby while getting ready to bring a new life into the world!
- Take a prenatal vitamin
- Taking prenatal vitamin early (even when you’re still trying to conceive) is important to make sure your baby has the nutrients he/she needs for crucial development, like calcium, folic acid, and iron.
- Choose your provider right away
- Early prenatal care is important for you and your baby! Whether you’re looking for a doctor, a midwife, a doula, or something else, finding the right person can take time!
- Watch what you eat
- Make sure you get plenty of protein and enough calcium but avoid undercooked meat and eggs and unpasteurized dairy products!
- Don’t drink alcohol – but stay hydrated!
- Alcohol you drink reaches your baby quickly through the bloodstream and increases their risk for many problems. Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day, and say no to alcohol!
- Limit your caffeine intake
- Limit coffee drinking and check the caffeine content of other products you consume – excess caffeine can increase your risk of miscarriage and it makes it harder for your body to absorb iron, which you need more of while pregnant.
- Exercise
- Exercising while pregnant can help ease aches and pains and prepare your baby for the physical stress of labor. It can also help you reduce stress, improve circulation, control weight gain, and sleep better!
- Make a birth plan
- Making a birth plan can help with peace of mind, get you thinking about what to expect, and assure you that your wishes for the birth will be known by all involved.
- Wear sunscreen
- Being pregnant actually makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so buy a big hat and wear sunscreen to protect your skin!
- Go to the dentist
- It’s important to remember to take care of other aspects of your health as well, and pregnancy hormones can actually make you more susceptible to gum disease, so don’t slack on oral hygiene!
- Be thoughtful about travelling
- Mid-pregnancy is the best time to fly because you’re usually over morning sickness and the risk of early delivery is low. Still, check with your doctor, and make sure you’re able to get up and move around about every half hour to reduce the risk of blood clots.
- Keep tabs on your mental health
- Pregnancy is emotional, but if your mood swings are intense and interfering with your everyday life, talk to your doctor. If you’ve been feeling low for more than two weeks or are feeling especially anxious, be sure to share your feeling with your caregiver.
- Sleep (!) and take time for yourself
- You may think you’re busy now, but just wait until the baby comes! Make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Taking time to relax and put your feet up will also help you de-stress and sleep better – and that’s good for you and your baby!
References: Herr, L. 17 Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy. Parents.
BabyCenter Staff. (2018). 12 Steps to a Healthy Pregnancy. Baby Center.
