It can be easier to be at ease when you’re pregnant if you learn whatever you can about getting your baby what it needs before you get too far into your pregnancy. This article is a great starting point to learn everything you need to about pregnancy.
Make a day-ending routine for better sleep during your pregnant months. Your body will be more aware of it being sleep time if you have a regular routine each night. Soothing pre-bedtime rituals may include taking warm showers, reading in bed, or having your shoulders massaged.
Avoid Vitamin A during pregnancy. It may hurt your unborn child. You need to stay away from foods rich in vitamin A such as mangos, egg yolks, liver and mozzarella. Eat very small portions of these foods once in a while if you want to.
Protein intake is essential for pregnant women. Protein is a very important nutrient that is good for you, and one your baby needs to grow healthy. Some examples of high protein foods include chicken, tofu, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, legumes, and eggs.
Take the time to eat a small serving of bland foods every couple of hours when you are pregnant. Nausea and vomiting will be kept at bay if you keep your stomach full of these foods. Try to avoid foods that are very high in fat and acid content because these will give you an upset stomach or heartburn.
Leg cramps happen a lot in the late stages of pregnancy. If you stretch just before hitting the sack, you can avoid these cramps. Drinking water can help you avoid them too, as may potassium from banana and other potassium-rich foods.
Keep a food diary and keep a record of all your food choices. Keeping a record of your dietary intake will help to make sure you meet all your nutritional requirements. Your prenatal care team may also be interested in your food journal.
Stay active during late pregnancy by swimming. In the later months of pregnancy, swimming can be an ideal exercise because it keeps you active and soothes the strains and aches caused by your condition. You will also enjoy sense of being weightless in the water.
Once you reach the third trimester, you should prepare a bag for the hospital visit. Putting it off for too long puts you at risk for having to go to the hospital empty handed. You need a camera, insurance cards, birth plan, and batteries.
Make sure you are documenting your pregnancy through pictures, video, and diaries. Kids love to see themselves in Mommy’s tummy. Take photos throughout your pregnancy and put together a photo book after your baby is born.
Writing down a birth plan will put your hopes, expectations and feelings about birth in perspective. You can also put in personal preferences for your childbirth, such as music and lighting, so that you are as comfortable as possible when you give birth. There can be as little or as many details as you want.
Use a stronger sunscreen that normal if you having a baby and it is the summertime and you plan to go outdoors. Extra melanin causes what is known as a “pregnancy mask” if you are not properly prepared. Using a powerful sunscreen can easily prevent the redness on your face this condition causes.
Morning Sickness
Most women experience morning sickness during pregnancy. There are some self-care steps you can use to help overcome the sickness so that you feel better. Do not let yourself get to the stage of feeling hungry. Instead, make time throughout the day to eat more frequently, but with smaller meals. Always make sure you are properly hydrated. Be certain to swallow your prenatal vitamins with one of your mini meals. If a particular food makes you sick, do not consume it. If you are exhausted, don’t hesitate to take a rest, as the morning sickness will eventually pass.
As this article has shown, there are many things you can do to help protect both you and your unborn child. As long as you put this knowledge to use, you’ll be a happier soon-to-be-mother.
