Pregnancy invokes so many questions. Pregnancy will affect many different aspects of your life. It’s easy to feel overloaded by all the information out there. Keep reading for a handful of useful tips and tricks for living with pregnancy–your own or someone else’s.
Do you have a baby on board? Planning on breastfeeding your child? Do you want to find a way to be discreet while feeding your baby in public? Buy nursing clothes and do both! Many companies specialize in outfits for discreet breastfeeding. People won’t be able to see what is going on. Nurse at the mirror at first so you can figure out how to do it discreetly.
To get better sleep while pregnant, make sure you drink less fluid before bed. Drink plenty of water early in the day, but cut back later in the day and before bedtime. Then you won’t have to get up to go to the bathroom so often.
Eat small meals to help with the nausea that can happen in the first trimester. Keeping the stomach full of something can prevent upset stomach issues. Try keeping the foods you’re eating fresh and light, too. You will do best with a healthful diet of lean protein sources, fresh veggies and fruit and whole grains.
If you are past your due date and you want your baby to be born, try walking. Walking helps baby to move into the correct position, putting pressure on the cervix and sometimes starting labor. Have your partner come, too. Avoid harmful techniques like contact exercising.
Keep a log of all the food that you consume during the day. Keeping track of what you eat will help to ensure that you are getting the proper nutrition. You can also take it to the doctor’s office to look over during your appointments.
If you are feeling nervous about your upcoming birth, read a selection of birth stories that others have posted online. Reading medical books can be a little dry and clinical. Hearing from actual mothers can give you a real-world view. Reading those stories will help you feel more calm about everything.
You may feel nauseous when certain smells are present, due to a heightened sense of smell during pregnancy. To reduce the effect of smells that make you queasy, try carrying a hanky moistened with some lavender or lemon oils. You can grab the handkerchief and hold it to your nose as you pass anything which smells badly enough to nauseate you.
Folic acid should be found in any prenatal vitamin you’re taking. This vitamin helps with tissue development and reduction in risk of certain birth defects.
If you and your significant other are planning to start a family, you should each visit with a physician for a check-up. This will determine if you are in the best physical health before you try having a baby, and whether you need any tests due to your personal medical history. It also gives you the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have about your potential pregnancy.
Don’t feel that you must know everything right away. After all, you have quite a few months of pregnancy ahead of you. Take the time you need to garner knowledge at a pace you are comfortable with. Start with the advice that this article has taught you, and expand on that as you move forward. Most importantly, stay calm and allow yourself all the enjoyment and wonder that pregnancy can offer!