Tag Archives: unborn child

The Journey Toward Meeting Your Baby: What To Do During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a joyous experience but many people find that they have negative effects such as nausea, heartburn, backaches and nighttime leg cramps. The article below will provide many effective ways to deal with these symptoms and take control of your pregnancy in a positive and healthy way. Take time to read through all the following paragraphs for the utmost assistance with your time of carrying a child to term.

Try to reduce stress as much as possible during pregnancy. Not only can stress cause a variety of different problems in a woman, but it can also cause the baby to become stressed. Premature birth is a possible result of excessive stress in a mother.

Women who are constipated while pregnant should consume more fiber in their diet. Pregnancy hormones often cause constipation in women. Avoid this uncomfortable condition by eating plenty of fiber!

Remember that getting pregnant can take upwards of a year. After a year, you need to go and visit your doctor. They will let you know if you’re having some kind of a medical issue that’s preventing pregnancy.

Check out the medical facility where your baby will be born. Look around and speak with the staff on duty. This helps you become more confident. This is especially helpful for expectant dads since they will do the majority of the communication with hospital staff.

Be sure you are aware of all the signs when it comes to premature labor. Take in as much information as you can about this, so that you can make contact your doctor at the right moment.

Tell your doctor about any adverse symptoms you face while you’re pregnant, including swollen feet. While this could be part of your pregnancy, it might also be preeclampsia, which is a serious condition that elevates blood pressure. If you’re suffering from preeclampsia, your doctor needs to take of it as soon as possible to protect your health and that of your child.

Unborn Child

Food cravings are not uncommon during pregnancy, but be careful about giving in to every craving. After all, your unborn child has his or her own nutritional needs to consider. Gorging yourself on your cravings may only satisfy those cravings and not the nutritional needs of your unborn child. For this reason, make sure you eat a well-balanced to meet both of your needs.

If you take the time to absorb all of the provided information, you are likely to find the information to help you make this an awesome time of your life. In many cases women will quickly forget the pains and ailments that they experienced during pregnancy, but hopefully this article will help you reduce them dramatically and you will make your pregnancy memorable.

Making Pregnancy Better For Mom And Baby

To help you be able sleep through the night plan your water consumption out carefully. It is important that you are well hydrated during the daytime, but once dinner time comes, it is best to reduce the amount. Stop completely, though, right before going to bed. This should limit the number of times you have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

Don’t travel in the later stages of pregnancy, without discussing it with your doctor, first. If you do travel, make sure you carry along with you all your prenatal medical records, so you are prepared.

Eat about 400 more calories a day during your pregnancy. The baby needs this extra nutrition, and now is certainly not the time to be counting calories. Eat good quality, healthy food as much as possible.

Avoid taking vitamin A when you are pregnant. It can cause problems in embryos if taken in larger doses. Avoid eggs, mangos and carrots, as these foods contain a lot of the vitamin. You can eat a little, but do not consume vitamin A in bulk.

If you get a cold or any other medical condition, try using non-medical remedies. Over-the-counter medications can often hurt a fetus. Check on the Internet for natural remedies to soothe such issues as nausea, heartburn and constipation. You can also ask your doctor for any tricks that they have.

Keep bland foods at hand, such as toast and crackers, when you are pregnant. Foods with a bland flavor will most likely be easier for your stomach and sense of smell to tolerate. Greasy and acidic foods are best avoided, as they can exacerbate nausea and trigger heartburn.

If an illness during pregnancy causes diarrhea, make sure to increase the amount of water you drink. Diarrhea can cause anyone to have dehydration, but if you’re pregnant, you can be hospitalized and hooked up to some intravenous fluids.

Talk to your unborn child every day. There have been studies done that show that babies in the womb can respond as soon as 10 weeks into a pregnancy. Several weeks later, he or she can hear you speak. Talking to the baby helps improve your bond with each other.

Swelling is a common side effect of pregnancy. Cutting down on your salt consumption will help to reduce swelling.

You should always visit with your doctor when planning on getting pregnant. Your doctor can give you advice on lifestyle changes beneficial to pregnancy and make sure there are no underlying medical conditions that could cause a problem. Therefore, it is beneficial to speak with a professional before the process begins.

If you wish to get pregnant, start tracking your cycle. When you know when you have them, you can figure out the bets time to conceive. You’ll also know whether it’s time to try that home pregnancy test because you’ll notice if you skip a period.

You should be eating foods rich in iron and also taking iron supplements. You need to increase your iron levels during your pregnancy. Without enough iron, you cannot produce the hemoglobin necessary to keep oxygen moving through your body. During the second and third trimesters, your iron needs will increase even more.

Consider hiring a doula to assist you with your delivery. A female who helps support a pregnant mother is a doula. She may help the mother as she creates a birthing plan, work with her to facilitate a natural birth, or simply offer emotional support.

Avoid using products to cleanse your vagina during your pregnancy. These products can harm your child. If there is an odor coming out of the vagina, you may want to speak with your physician. This may be a symptom of an infection.

When you are pregnant, everything you put into your body is shared with the growing baby. Therefore, you should not drink, you should stay away from drugs, and you definitely should not smoke. Your carelessness could cause a great deal of harm to your unborn child and a variety of health problems to your child as he or she grows.

Becoming Pregnant

Before becoming pregnant, you are advised to visit your physician. Visiting your doctor before becoming pregnant can allow him or her to provide you with valuable health information. This is information that may be invaluable in having a healthy, easy pregnancy.

Lamaze Class: Should You Or Shouldn’t You

Pregnancy is an experience like no other, with many aspects that are beyond your control. However, there are also factors in which you can have a positive impact on the developing life within you. To regain control, read through the advice that is here.

Stay away from Vitamin A if you are pregnant. Vitamin A can harm an embryo. Don’t eat foods with this vitamin. You should avoid foods like egg yolks, mangoes, liver, and mozzarella cheese. You can eat small amount of these, but don’t overdo it.

A lot of people find it fun to decorate wherever their baby is going to sleep after it’s born. However, remember that exposure to paint fumes while pregnant is potentially harmful to a developing baby. If you have to be in a room that is being painted, make sure the windows are open and that it’s ventilated well. If possible, get your partner or your friends to help you prepare the baby’s room.

Giving in to food cravings, that you experience when you’re pregnant, isn’t always a good idea. Your unborn child needs to receive good nutrition through what you eat. While addressing cravings for certain junk foods may make you feel better short-term, it can ultimately be harmful to your baby. Before indulging, always ask yourself if that quick fix will do more harm than good.

Have your hospital bags packed well in advance of giving birth. You want to be prepared in case you go into labor early. You will want to include your birth plan, camera with extra batteries, and insurance cards.

A prenatal vitamin can ensure that your body is functioning well during pregnancy, providing you with adequate folic acid. This vitamin is advantageous in proper development of your unborn child’s neural tube and also aids in cell and tissue formation.

Take some time out for yourself. After you deliver your baby, your life is going to be far more complex than now, and you won’t have as much time to pamper yourself. Go and get a manicure, spend time with friends, or take part in your favorite hobby. You will feel much better, and so will your unborn child.

Converse with your unborn baby every day. Research has shown that an unborn child at about 10 weeks can respond to touch. Several weeks later, he or she can hear you speak. Talking to your baby helps form your bond with him.

Towards the end of the second trimester, massage your belly on a daily basis. Place two pillows at your back while sitting comfortably on your bed or couch. You can use oil to lightly massage your belly and should avoid using lotion. Put on relaxing music and remember to breathe. Doing this will make you feel very relaxed, which will soothe your baby.

By now, you should know that there is much you can do while pregnant to keep yourself and your baby happy and healthy. You can start off with beneficial steps to maintain your own health and that of the baby too, while awaiting your big day to arrive.

If You Are Pregnant, Here’s Some Advice

Pregnancy isn’t a subject that can be mastered in one day. Even when you have been pregnant before, there are still things to learn. If you know that your family will be expanding in the months ahead, then this article will be a great resource for you.

Make sure you adjust your diet so that you and your unborn child can receive the nutrients you need. If you’re a poor eater, you need to make some changes. Try eating more vegetables, lean proteins and fruits as soon as possible.

Make sure to take care of your teeth and gums during pregnancy. Pregnancy can make your mouth and immune system vulnerable. Make sure you floss your teeth, brush them a couple times a day and also use mouthwash. If you have an issue, visit your dentist immediately.

Litter Box

Don’t touch your cat’s litter box after becoming pregnant! Cat droppings can pass on infections and diseases, so leave the changing of your cat’s litter box to someone else while you are pregnant. Get your spouse or roommate to handle this for you, or have a neighbor or relative stop by regularly to change the litter box.

Take the time to do a hospital visit before giving birth there. Tour the facility and become acquainted with the staff. This can help to alleviate a lot of nervousness and provide a good opportunity for you to ask questions. This can be particularly helpful to fathers as they are the ones who may do the majority of the communication with others during your labor.

Keep bland foods at hand, such as toast and crackers, when you are pregnant. Foods with a bland flavor will most likely be easier for your stomach and sense of smell to tolerate. It’s also important to avoid acidic or greasy foods that could give you heartburn or worsen your nausea.

It is important that you are able to recognize if you are in premature labor, so familiarize yourself with the signs. Knowing what to look for will help you to make an educated decision about whether or not to contact your doctor.

Pregnant women who struggle with edema–swollen hands and feet–should notify their physician. This could be a harmless symptom, or be a sign of a high blood pressure condition also known as preeclampsia. This condition needs to be treated to ensure that you have a healthy birth.

Sexually Transmitted Disease

When you find out you are pregnant, it is important to get tested to see if you have a sexually transmitted disease. Sexually transmitted diseases when left untreated can cause many serious health problem for both you and your unborn child. Your doctor can easily test to see if you have a sexually transmitted disease by checking your blood, urine, or doing a pap smear. If you are diagnosed with an STD, you may need to deliver your baby via C-section.

When traveling pregnant, make sure medical care is always not far away. You should meet with a doctor regularly and go to the hospital right away if something unusual happens. Also, make sure you have a phone with you at all times when you travel.

Avoid hot tubs and saunas while you are pregnant. You want to avoid getting overheated, since that can be especially harmful to the baby. Some spas also use oils that could cause early contractions, particularly during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. Stay away from things like clary sage, juniper and rosemary.

Loop a hair tie through your button hole on your pants and then pull it over the button. This lets your pants survive longer while you are pregnant. With elastic maternity bands or long shirts covering pants, nobody will see that they’re technically unbuttoned. This makes it so you do not have to buy as many maternity clothes.

Folic Acid

It is important that your prenatal vitamin supplement has the necessary amount of the B vitamin, folic acid. Folic acid prevents neural tube problems and helps your fetus develop.

If you want to know more about your pregnancy so you have the comfort that you have everything under control, you should definitely put these great tips to use. Your anxiety can be put to rest with this knowledge under your hat.

All You Need To Know About Your Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be really stressful! Every mother who’s expecting a baby wishes to have a child who is healthy. You’ll know you’re doing all you can to help your unborn child if you educate yourself well. The article below has tips that can help.

Learn how to monitor your menstrual cycles if you want to conceive. You can use your knowledge of your cycle to figure out when the best time to try for a baby might be. If you have accurately tracked your cycle, you can also use your information to determine more accurately your date of conception and your due date.

Figure out what the signs are for premature labor and the things to look for when you’ll need to contact a doctor. With luck, you will never have to actually use this information. Most importantly though, will be having an idea of what to do should this occur, so that you remain calm. Getting help with preterm labor early on will increase your chance for the best outcome.

Visit the doctor if you think you’re pregnant or get a pregnancy test. Waiting too long to confirm a pregnancy can cause complications and stop you from getting all the necessary care.

Walking may stimulate your baby into being born if your due date has come and gone. Walking is great exercise, and it may help the baby reach the position needed for birth. Make sure a partner joins you for the walk. Don’t use contact exercise as it can be dangerous.

If you’re pregnant, it’s important to eat plenty of protein. Protein is necessary for your baby’s development and your body needs it to keep up with the demands of your developing baby. Some foods that contain protein are eggs, chicken, tofu, hamburger meat, and sunflower seeds.

Not every craving you have, while pregnant, should be satisfied. Both you and your unborn child have particular nutritional requirements. Indulging in too many cravings will fill you up and not leave room for the healthy foods that you and your baby need to be healthy.

When pregnant, don’t travel anywhere that is far from a medical center. You need to have access to a doctor throughout the entire pregnancy so as to avoid any complications. Also, whenever you travel, have your phone with you.

Unless your doctor says otherwise, you should never neglect exercise while pregnant. Many low-impact activities can actually help you throughout your pregnancy and make your labor less arduous.

Maternity Clothes

Wear properly fitting maternity clothes during your pregnancy. Many pregnant women don’t want to wear maternity clothes because they are embarrassed. You will be so much more comfortable and happier if you buy clothes that actually fit your growing body.

Follow a set schedule in the evening. This makes it easier to fall asleep, which can be unusually difficult for some pregnant women. Keep your evenings relaxing and free of stress. For example, a warm bath or shower can help you to feel sleepy and get to sleep easily.

As this article mentioned in the beginning, women who are expecting need to be educated so that they can have a healthy pregnancy – important for both mother and child. Use this article to your advantage so that you’re sure to have a great and healthy pregnancy.

Should You Breast Or Bottle Feed Your Baby

There is nothing more exciting than knowing you are pregnant. You have a lot of options if you want to protect your health during your pregnancy. Maintaining a physically healthy body will also ensure the healthy development of your unborn baby. Read on to learn how to maintain your health while you are pregnant.

If you want to have better sleep when you’re pregnant, you should drink less fluids because you have a smaller bladder capacity. Ensure you’re drinking enough during your day, but don’t drink as much toward dinner and stop before you go to bed. This will allow you to better control the urge to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Your doctor will either prescribe or recommend a prenatal vitamin. Take your vitamin at the same time each day, usual with a meal to prevent nausea. This provides you with nutrients that your regular diet may be lacking, and will promote the healthy growth of your baby in your womb.

It may take a full twelve months for you to conceive. You should see your doctor if you’ve tried to no avail. They will pinpoint any medical concerns about you getting pregnant.

Walk as much as you can when you’ve exceeded your due date and you want to go into labor. This can help you to maintain your health during the process. Ask your partner to go with you. Avoid harmful techniques like contact exercising.

Pregnancy is an exciting time for any mother-to-be. Many times a spouse or a partner can feel left out during this exciting time. It is therefore advisable to include them in the excitement. They are most likely as nervous about the baby as you are, so they may need reassurance too. Try spending time with each other, like taking a walk or going to see a movie. Make sure you enjoy the time given you before your new baby arrives.

Alternative remedies may be helpful for common maladies such as colds. Over-the-counter medicine can hurt your fetus. Check out information online from Dr. Mercola and similar websites. Your doctor will also have good ideas on what you can do.

Decorating the nursery can be exciting. But, keep in mind that you should not be around paint fumes when pregnant. Keep as many windows open as possible to ensure proper ventilation, no matter how chilly it is outside. If possible, get your partner or your friends to help you prepare the baby’s room.

Pregnant women, who are overcome by the desire for unhealthy foods, should not give in to every single craving. Both you and your unborn child have particular nutritional requirements. If you partake in every craving, you may not take in the proper nutrients that your child needs; therefore, it is very important to eat properly.

For added comfort, pregnant women are often advised to wear sports bras. By giving an additional level of breast support, they can contribute to less aches and lower levels of pain. As a pregnant woman, you should also avoid underwear that is tighter around your waist. Wearing tight undergarments can not only be uncomfortable, but can slow the supply of oxygen to your unborn child.

These tips should show you some simple things to do or avoid to make sure that both you and your future child stay as healthy as possible. Keep the tips you have learned here in mind, and you will ensure a healthier and more enjoyable pregnancy.

Making The Best Out Of Your Pregnancy

How wonderful! When you find out that you are pregnant, your whole world will change and you will begin on an amazing journey. Although the experience is one to be celebrated, it will also be filled with concerns, questions, and learning. We can give you some helpful tips for your journey.

Talk to your doctor if you wish to conceive. A doctor can advise you about the the best way to ensure a smooth and healthy nine months, and even offer guidance about fertility. Preparing your body is the best way to have a great pregnancy.

If you are having a baby, you have to be sure to exercise regularly. This will decrease your chances of suffering a miscarriage, reduce the amount of time you are in labor, and it will make it easier to go back to your regular size, after you give birth.

Talk to your doctor before you plan any traveling, while pregnant. Ensure that your medical records are traveling with you, just in case there are any issues.

It is important that a pregnant woman stays away from stress, as much as she can. The woman not only suffers from problems related to being stressed out, the baby can become stressed too. In extreme cases, stress can bring labor early and endanger the baby and mom.

If you experience heartburn or indigestion, eat several small meals throughout the day instead of a few large ones. Keeping something in your stomach can help combat issues when you’re dealing with pregnancy. Eat foods that are light and fresh. Lean meats, vegetables and fruits do wonders.

When you are nearing the final stretch of your pregnancy, it’s a good idea to tour the place where you will be giving birth. Your labor can become easier when you give birth in a place that’s comfortable to you. Visit more than one place before you make your decision. You want to be sure that you, and the person that will be with you during the birth, will be comfortable.

Study up on what premature labor feels like and understand at what point it is time to call the doctor. This is something that you want to know in case it happens. However, being aware of the signs can help you relax if this were to occur. The faster your response to preterm labor is, the better the overall outcome will be.

During your pregnancy, ask others to help you lift things, instead of trying to do it yourself. Lifting places great stress on you and your baby and can cause back pain and, in some cases, miscarriages. Get your partner or a loved one to help you out, even for an item you could lift before you got pregnant.

Unborn Child

Food cravings are not uncommon during pregnancy, but be careful about giving in to every craving. Your unborn child had nutritional needs for healthy development. Stuffing yourself with foods you crave is likely not to satisfy the nutritional needs of your unborn child, so remember to include proper nutrition in your life by eating a balanced diet.

Leg cramping happens a lot later in a pregnancy. Stretching before bed can help prevent night-time leg cramping. Staying properly hydrated and getting enough potassium in your diet will also help.

If you’re pregnant and you acquire an illness by eating food that results in diarrhea, see to it that you consume plenty of fluids. While diarrhea can lead to dehydration, this is especially dangerous for women who are pregnant and may require hospitalization.

Politely decline offers from well-wishers who are always trying to feed you something. Increase your calories but make sure that you do not overeat. You have the right to make healthy food choices.

Pregnancy is an amazing time. Use this time to prepare yourself for becoming a good parent. Pregnancy is full of wonder, so many questions and so much information to take in. You should have a better idea of what to do during your pregnancy after reading this article. They’re sure to be a help.

A Guide To Pregnancy – Top Tips

Finding out that you are going to have a baby is an amazing and overwhelming discovery. Since you haven’t known this joy before, you probably have so many questions that you can’t focus on any one concern. For example, when should you meet with your doctor, when can you announce the news to the world, and what body changes are going to occur. The following article will get you up to speed on all the basics you need to be aware of.

Keep your skin protected at all times as it becomes vulnerable while pregnant. Female skin is much more sensitive when pregnant and can sunburn easily, which can increase the chances of skin cancer.

Go on a tour at the location where you plan to give birth. It is important that you are okay with the place where you will give birth. Be sure to investigate some places when you have the chance, to see what you don’t like and do like. Be certain that you can be comfortable with your choice, and that your companion can as well.

It is important to know the signs and symptoms of premature labor so you can notify your doctor quickly. Hopefully, you will never have to put this information to use. But having this knowledge can help you stay calm should something out of the ordinary occur. When you can avoid preterm labor, you can save your baby’s health.

Blood Flow

For pregnant women that are in their 3rd trimester, it is advisable to sleep on their left side. It allows the baby to get an optimal blood supply, and gives you a better blood flow to the uterus and kidneys. Sleeping on one’s back is conducive to restricted blood flow, and should be avoided.

Pregnancy comes with lots of cravings; it’s not always the best idea to follow through with them. Remember that your unborn child has nutritional needs and so do you. Gorging yourself on certain cravings only meets those cravings, not the needs of the child, so make sure that you continue to eat right.

See your doctor for a flu shot as soon as you learn you are pregnant. Your lessened immunity while pregnant makes you more susceptible to getting sick. This is dangerous for you and the baby.

If you experience an increased volume of vaginal discharge during pregnancy, you are advised to consult with your doctor. This can be an indication of infection of the vagina, which is common during pregnancies. If left untreated, it can lead to serious health issues for yourself and your unborn child.

Try looking at stories about birth on the Internet to see what it will be like to deliver a child. You can get some facts from books, but reading a story straight from the mom is better. Be sure to avoid stories that are gruesome or sad and you will surely learn a lot and feel better about what is to come.

While you are pregnant, you may notice that your ability to smell is intensified, making everyday odors stronger, resulting in more nausea. You can avoid becoming nauseated by simply carrying some lavender oil or lemon along with a handkerchief. If you’re getting sick because of a strong odor in your environment, put the handkerchief under your nose. The scented oil will help ease your discomfort and block the offensive odors around you from getting to your nose.

Get prepared for the joy that is to come while enjoying this special time in your life with you can. Take advice of your social support system, keep up with your prenatal care, and most importantly, enjoy your pregnancy.

A Lot Of Women Get Sick When They Are Pregnant

With the proper information, the stresses of pregnancy can diminish. All the helpful tips here, can help you get started immediately.

Are you expecting? Do you plan to breastfeed instead of using bottles? Are you thinking about doing so publicly or are you looking to be more discreet. Buy nursing clothes and do both! There are outfits made by companies that allow for discreet breastfeeding. People won’t be able to see what is going on. Before you try to breastfeed in public, try looking in a mirror to see how others see you. You can then make the necessary adjustments for privacy.

Maternity Clothes

Buy maternity clothes as soon as needed. These clothes are there to make you feel more comfortable leaving the house even in the final months of your pregnancy. Do not be embarrassed about buying maternity clothes early on. Just understand that the choice in maternity clothes is your own. It is up to you to decide which maternity clothes are comfortable and attractive.

When you are attempting to become pregnant, you should consult with your doctor. This will give you an opportunity to adjust your lifestyle to become the healthiest you can be and ensure a successful pregnancy. Preparation is key to a healthy pregnancy.

If you or your loved one are attempting to conceive a child, learn to track her cycles and adhere to them closely. Knowing your cycles helps you know the perfect times for attempting to get pregnant. Once you are pregnant, the fact that you kept a close schedule of these cycles will allow you to locate the date you would have conceived with near-pinpoint accuracy.

Consult with a physician prior to undertaking travel during pregnancy. Take documents that detail the prenatal care you’ve received to this point, so that you’ll have them in an emergency.

Eating a series of smaller meals throughout the day is an excellent way to stave off nausea in your first trimester. Keeping something in your stomach will help prevent upset stomach issues. Try to keep the foods you do eat light and fresh. Lean meats, vegetables and fresh fruit do wonders.

When you are pregnant, be sure to sleep with good support for your body. Most stores offer body pillows especially for pregnant women. In case you do not own a pillow like this, a regular pillow can be used for support. Try a pillow beneath your knee and another below your lower back.

Take photographs of yourself while pregnant and write to your unborn child. Kids love to see what their mothers looked like while pregnant. Take pictures and jot little notes to share with them later on when they’re ready.

Take a class that covers all of the aspects of childbirth. Sign up early on to ensure you get a space. Breastfeeding classes are another great idea. These classes will prepare you for what will come in the future.

Maternity Clothes

Go ahead and get some properly-fitting maternity clothes. Too often, women attempt to continue wearing the same size throughout the entire pregnancy because they believe it is embarrassing to buy maternity clothes. Wearing clothes that fit your body will make you more comfortable and happy.

Discuss childcare with your partner before you deliver your baby. Sometimes it all falls on Mommy’s shoulders, and this is unfair. Outlining what each person’s responsibilities are will ensure that both people are prepared once the time comes.

If you are trying to conceive, eat a healthy diet and ensure you body is getting all the nutrients you need. Some nutrients, especially folic acid and its derivatives, are important to fetal development from the very beginning. Add prenatal vitamins to your daily routine for even more nutrition.

As this article has shown, there are many things you can do to help protect both you and your unborn child. Implementing the tips given will allow you to enjoy your pregnancy and have a better time throughout.

Pregnancy Tips You Can Start Using Today

Although pregnancy is a hectic time where you have little control, there are ways you can take action to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Take a look at the advice below to see what action you can take to be in more control during your pregnancy.

Provided the majority of what you eat is balanced and healthy, it’s okay to give in to those cravings! The cravings may be a signal of your body’s need for specific nutrients found in the foods which are triggering the cravings. While pregnant, you need more nutrition and energy, so do not feel bad about succumbing to your cravings.

Make sure that you take a tour of your birthing hospital near to your due date. If you are completely comfortable and confident with your birth place decision, you’ll feel that much better when it comes time to deliver. It is very important that you look at and inspect these places so you have a greater idea what to expect when the time comes. Make sure that the facilities are what you need for both you and the person staying with you during labor.

Get help with lifting while pregnant. If you choose to life a heavy object yourself, you could miscarry your baby or even strain your back. For these reasons, it’s best to get somebody to help you lift heavy things, even if you feel like you can handle it.

If your feet swell a lot during pregnancy, let your physician know about this. The swelling could be typical or, it may signify preeclampsia, a condition related to high blood pressure during pregnancy. You must seek treatment for this condition or you risk your health and the life of your child.

Do not change your cat’s litter when pregnant. Pregnant women should avoid handling soiled cat litter because of the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis. Cats are carriers of toxoplasmosis, and if you become infected, it can be passed to your unborn child, resulting in possible birth defects, miscarriage or stillbirth.

Many expectant mothers experience leg cramps. Make sure you stretch before going to bed, and this will lesson the chance of these occurring. Also, you will want to consume as much water as possible to avoid cramps.

Dehydration can be a big concern during pregnancy if you have excessive nausea, or if you get sick with an illness that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Pregnant women are especially prone to dehydration caused by diarrhea, and it can even put them in the hospital.

Cat Litter

This may sound odd to you, but if you are pregnant stay away from the cat litter. Toxoplasmosis is a dangerous parasite that causes problems for a fetus in utero. Don’t allow your unborn child’s health to be in jeopardy. So, eliminate cat litter from your home.

Avoid all alcohol when pregnant. If a woman drinks during pregnancy, the alcohol is passed onto the unborn fetus by way of the placenta. This is why it is recommended that women wishing to become pregnant or those that already are pregnant refrain from drinking any type of alcohol. Drinking alcohol while pregnant increases the chance of mental and physical birth defects and increases any risk of miscarriage and premature birth.

As mentioned above, there are many things that you can control during pregnancy. While you await the birth of your baby, you can take positive and measurable steps toward safeguarding and enhancing your health and that of your baby.