The constraints of pregnancy may be intimidating, but thankfully with a bit of knowledge you can get through it with a little know-how. There are lots of resources available, and you can start by perusing the helpful tips below.
Purchase maternity undergarments early. You are going to have more wearable clothing that is comfortable if you are pregnant. Don’t feel embarrassed or self-conscious purchasing the maternity clothes early. Be comfortable in your own skin and in what you are wearing.
Talk to your doctor before you try to get pregnant. Your doctor can help you make healthy changes to your lifestyle, ensuring the best pregnancy experience possible. One thing you’ll want to do is to try and get your body ready for pregnancy.
Make sure you’ve gotten rid of any harmful chemicals that don’t need to be around during your pregnancy. Cleaning solutions can be bad for a pregnancy, so look for ones that are made with natural additives instead. After you have your child, try to keep these things away anyways so that the child can be safe.
Go to the hospital you expect to give birth at. Take a look around the hospital and meet the people that work there. This will help calm your nerves and answer a lot of your questions. This process can be particularly helpful to the expectant father as he will be very active around the delivery room when you give birth.
When you are pregnant and have to travel, avoid places where medical care is not close by. It’s crucial that you have access to a doctor throughout your entire nine months, in case a situation arises. Also, never travel without having a phone handy.
Stretching before bed may help stop leg cramps. Pregnant women often wake up with “charlie horses” in their legs. Stretching well before going to bed will relax your muscles and avoid that agonizing midnight awakening.
Make sure your hospital bags are packed as you near the 3rd trimester. You will not like the results if you procrastinate. Be sure that you have your medical insurance card, a camera with batteries, and your birth plan.
Unless your doctor has told you not to exercise, keep up with your current exercise routines. Many low-impact activities can actually help you throughout your pregnancy and make your labor less arduous.
When you are pregnant, do not drink any alcohol. If a woman drinks during pregnancy, the alcohol is passed onto the unborn fetus by way of the placenta. Therefore, a woman who is pregnant or trying to become pregnant, should avoid alcohol. Drinking alcohol while pregnant could result in mental and physical birth defects, and it can cause miscarriage or premature birth.
Human skin can stretch a lot, but only so far. It is perfectly normal for the belly to itch as it is growing during pregnancy. Try not to take any hot showers and baths when your skin itches. Hot water strips all of the natural oils out of your skin causing it to itch. Moisturize with a heavy product, like cocoa butter or Vaseline. Wear loose fitting clothes, and do not scratch!
Speak with your partner about dividing parenting responsibilities prior to the baby coming. Lots of parents discover that one or the other of them ends up with most of the child care responsibility. Allot the responsibilities fairly so everyone is doing their part.
Take extra care of yourself while you’re pregnant, and you’ll find that it will help you through the pregnancy and beyond. Using the practical ideas in the article above will help you face this responsibility with the knowledge you need to have a healthy and happy pregnancy.