Make Your Pregnancy A Memorable And Special Time
When you are expecting a child, it is one of the most wonderful times of your life. Still, pregnancy brings with it many questions, and each pregnancy is different. If you have questions or concerns about your pregnancy, this article can help you address them with some time-tested advice.
Eat for one! Many people think that because they are pregnant, they can eat as much as they want. This is not true. If you want to be able to get your body back after you give birth, you need to make sure that you only raise your calories by a very little bit (you should consume around 2,000 calories a day, no more!)
Be sure to stay active while pregnant. Use low-impact exercises - walking and swimming - that keep you moving without putting too much stress on your body. This will help prevent excess pregnancy weight gain, improve the quality of your sleep, and increase circulation to your lower limbs, all of which can be a challenge when pregnant.
One of the very basic things that pregnant women should do in order to achieve a healthy pregnancy is to start changing the food habits that they have. It is very important to have a healthy variety of foods in order to properly nourish the baby.
If you have never had a baby before, find women you can talk to about the experience. Most moms are more than happy to give you all the little details of their birth experience. This will help to answer your questions and gain a better understanding of the process.
Shop around for a prenatal exercise class that you enjoy. You can take a yoga class that will teach you how to do exercises that are specialized for pregnant women. This will allow you to keep up your health and remain active, throughout your entire pregnancy. You could also make some new friends when you join a yoga class.
Take a childbirth class. Classes are offered gynecologist near me in many doctors' offices and online. Topics covered include nutrition, exercise, relaxation, epidural anesthesia, pain relief in labor, preparing for labor and childbirth, as well as breastfeeding and baby care. Classes are generally offered once a week over a six to eight week period. Studies show that couples that attend regular childbirth classes are prepared and relaxed during childbirth.
Try to avoid some of the chemicals that would be harmful to your body such as paint and toxic supplies around the house. These will end up getting into your bloodstream and could affect the overall health of your baby. Be extra cautious when you are pregnant to protect the child you are carrying.
Avoid plastic containers that have BPA during your pregnancy. BPA acts like estrogen in the body and can have an adverse effect on babies. The BPA can have a feminizing affect on the fetus that you want to avoid. Switch out your plastics for glass and stainless steel to avoid the risk.
Switch into your maternity clothing as early as possible. Most women want to put it off as long as possible but they don't realize one important fact. Maternity clothes are extremely comfortable. As your body goes through changes, it becomes more sensitive and your regular clothes will get more and more uncomfortable. Make the switch and give your body a break.
Heartburn is a common occurrence during pregnancy. Luckily there are several things that you can do to help keep heartburn at bay. Stay away from greasy and spicy foods. These are known to aggravate heartburn. Also, eat smaller, more frequent meals. Drinking after you eat can help hold off heartburn as well.
When you are pregnant, try to broil, bake or steam your food. These methods of food preparation are healthier for you and your baby, and play an essential role in helping you avoid unnecessary weight gain. If you go out to eat, ask your server to recommend dishes that are prepared using one of these methods.
Weight gain is inevitable for most women during pregnancy. Women of average weight will need to gain between 25 to 35 pounds, while women carrying twins will gain from 35 to 45 pounds. If you start out overweight do not try to diet during your pregnancy. Talk with your doctor to develop a healthy eating plan to ensure both you and your baby get all of the nutrients you each need.
Shift your consumption of water and other fluids to earlier in the day to offset the need to empty your bladder during the night. It is important to stay hydrated but by limiting the amount of liquids consumed within an hour or two before going to bed, you can reduce the number of middle of the night trips to the bathroom.
Review your birth plan with your physician before you are in labor. Doing so will help to ensure that you and your physician are on the same page when it comes to your birth wishes. It also gives your doctor an opportunity to answer any questions you might have. Ask your doctor to sign off that he or she agrees with what you have written in your plan.
Don't let your concerns or uncertainties about pregnancy distract you from the important job of making sure that you and your new baby stay as healthy as possible. By remembering what you've learned in this article, you can relieve your fears and just focus on giving your baby the best start possible.