Making preparations for your new child and dealing with changes on your physical self brought on by being pregnant can be hard, even for experienced mothers. More sensible advice will surface once a little time passes, however. The common sense advice in the article below may be just what you need to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
You probably need to change your diet. If you ate a lot of fast food before you got pregnant, then you need to make large adjustments. Eat more fruit, veggies and lean meat.
Taking a prenatal vitamin when you are trying to get pregnant is a good idea, to make sure you are getting all of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. The initial trimester of your pregnancy is when your baby starts growing his neural cord that eventually develops into a spinal cord and brain. Folic acid, iron and calcium are very important during this crucial development.
Take a trip to the hospital that you plan to have your baby at. Tour it and get to know the staff. Any questions you have can be answered and you may feel more calm. This is especially helpful for expectant dads since they will do the majority of the communication with hospital staff.
If you’re pregnant, it’s important to eat plenty of protein. Your baby needs a lot of proteins to grow and your body will benefit from it too. Tofu, legumes, eggs, and lean meats are wonderful sources of high quality protein to include in your diet.
If you’re having a problem with a cold or something else, try remedies that are non-medical. Over-the-counter treatments can harm your baby. You can find many natural solutions online that can relieve everything from nausea and heartburn to constipation. Consult with your doctor for non-toxic alternatives as well.
Relatively tasteless foods, like crackers, can help you feel better while you’re pregnant. Snacking on these types of foods can ease nausea and help keep your stomach settled. It’s also important to avoid acidic or greasy foods that could give you heartburn or worsen your nausea.
Approaching your 3rd trimester, go ahead and get your overnight hospital bag packed. You want to be prepared in case you go into labor early. Be certain your insurance information, camera and birth plan are readily available.
Talk to any friend who has given birth to learn some tricks and tips she might have used while pregnant. This can help you to become more comfortable in each stage of the process.
Prior to conceiving a child, live your life as though you were pregnant already. Stop drinking and smoking, eat healthier, and begin a fitness regimen. You may need at least six months to become pregnant, so adjusting your lifestyle can be quite helpful.
Cat Litter
You may find this strange, but avoid cat litter when you are expecting. Toxoplasmosis is a type of parasitic disease that may harm an unborn child. Don’t go near cat litter to make sure your baby is safe.
Creating a birthing plan is a good idea. This plan can map out expectations and your personal feelings about the child birthing process. You can decide what lighting, music, or any other environmental adjustments that can keep you relaxed and comfortable during delivery. This can be very short or long, depending on your preference.
If you are trying to conceive, eat a healthy diet and ensure you body is getting all the nutrients you need. You need to take supplements of folate and folic acid. You should also include a prenatal vitamin in your daily nutrition routine.
Wear a strong sunscreen outdoors when you are pregnant. The sun increases melanin production and you may develop a “pregnancy mask”. This turns your face red, but it is avoidable.
Take your iron pills and keep eating iron rich foods during your pregnancy. You’re sharing your nutrients with another person, so you need to up your iron intake by 50 percent. Iron is what you need to produce hemoglobin and that’s what carries oxygen through the whole body. The more pregnant you are, the more iron you require.
Be sure that you’re taking in at least eight full glasses of water every day when you’re pregnant. Good hydration will keep you and your baby healthy and help you prevent excessive eating. Dehydration is something that you will want to reduce at all costs. Drink water if you’re hungry and you’ve already eaten.
Folic Acid
Take your prenatal supplements with folic acid! Although you need a lot of nutrients during your pregnancy, you can greatly reduce the risk of devastating neural tube defects by making sure you get at least 600 milligrams every day of folic acid. Start taking a minimum of 400 milligrams right away so you will be ready when the time comes.
When you are at a social function but you don’t wish others to know you are pregnant, there are options for avoiding alcohol without it being a big deal. For instance, you can say you are not drinking alcohol because it would conflict with a medicine you are taking. If you really need to pretend, cranberry juice sipped from a wine glass will do the trick. It may be necessary to enlist the help of your partner.
Make sure that you go on a tour of the place where you plan to deliver your child. This is very important if it’s your first time having a baby, so you’ll know how everything looks. It will also help you get familiar with where you will have to go so you do not have to panic when the time comes.
On balance, you should enjoy your pregnancy. Use the suggestions offered in the article and enjoy your pregnancy.
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