Learning about your pregnancy can be an exciting moment. The thought of a new member joining your family can fill you with love and hope. However, once you discover that you are carrying a baby, you must adjust your lifestyle accordingly. Becoming reckless and ignoring the needs of your fetus can put you and your developing child at risk.
Therefore, by making specific changes in your routine and habits, you can safely deliver your child and celebrate their birth. For your understanding, here’s what you need to do:
1. Get Rid of All Your Bad Habits
If you have destructive and harmful habits, you need to curtail them immediately. These may include starving yourself, not maintaining hygiene standards, and in the worst case indulging in tobacco use. These factors can negatively impact your fetus’s growth, resulting in a miscarriage or premature birth, which are painful to experience and can further jeopardize your well-being. If you’re struggling to change the way you live and adopt a healthier outlook on life, it is okay to ask for help. The first step should be to take professional help.
You can reach out to numerous resources for support, such as rehab centers like the highly recommended Delphi Health Group, which has certified professionals to look after you. They can help you eliminate bad habits such as tobacco use effectively.
Likewise, you can lean on your family, friends, and partner for the support and help you need to curb your bad habits.
2. Attend Your Mandated Checkups
You must ensure you attend all your prenatal visits without skipping out on an appointment. Even if you get frustrated at the frequent checkups, these checkups are essential to ensure the fetus is developing healthily.
You may also utilize these checkups to discuss your birth plan, learn more if you are borderline for health conditions like gestational diabetes, and if your calorie intake is enough. Generally, from weeks four to twenty-eight, you need to do one prenatal visit every month.
As you approach closer to your delivery date, you may need one visit every week. Don’t deviate from the schedule that the doctor designs for you, as it allows them to detect and solve your problems early.
A doctor may need to monitor your health continuously if you have pre-existing medical conditions like high blood pressure or obesity. Every pregnancy is different, and your health provider will inform you best on what you need for your baby’s development.
3. Make Sure You Maintain The Right Weight
You don’t need to eat more than you can handle during pregnancy. If you go overboard with your diet, you may gain more weight than required, which is risky for the fetus.
For most mothers, gaining 25 to 35 pounds more than your weight is safe and recommended. But this needs to increase gradually, not within a short period.
Most women begin noticing a change in their weight during the first trimester. It is best if you gain at least a pound each as your pregnancy progresses to give your body time to adjust to your new physique. But if you are already dealing with issues related to your weight, you may need to shed a few pounds. Depending on your circumstances, these can be from 15 to 25 pounds.
Regarding the calories you consume, ensure you have 1,800 units per day during your first trimester. As the fetus grows and you enter your second trimester, you need to up your intake to 2,200 calories; by the third trimester, you need a minimal increase to 2,400 units.
4. Exercise
During your pregnancy, it helps to have a good fitness regime. Physical activities build up your core strength, tone your muscles and increase your stamina which is vital for your condition.
Before you start investing your time and energy into a routine, ask your doctor if it is safe for you to exercise. Sometimes, you may need to stay on your feet less and rest longer. But if you are in excellent shape, look into a regime that can help you maintain your health.
Most pregnant mothers need at least two and a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobics per week.
Aerobics improves your circulation and is a great stress reliever.
Popular exercises include walking, riding a stationary bike, and swimming. You may also check out certified yoga and pilates for pregnant women. After every workout, ensure you hydrate appropriately with 64 to 96 ounces of fluid daily.
5. Fix Your Diet
Pregnancy requires an excellent and well-balanced diet. So if you were used to unhealthy meals and fast food, you might need to bid them adieu.
Depending on your condition, you may need to increase your uptake of proteins, fruits, vegetables, and pasteurized dairy products. Additionally, you may indulge in nutrition-packed soups, grilled meat, and lentils that can give you the essential vitamins you need.
You may need to supplement your diet with folic acid and vitamins A, B, and E to ensure your baby is safe from most congenital disabilities and develops healthy bones and skin.
Avoid indulging in cold deli cuts, raw meat, soft cheese, and sushi. These products may have bacteria and certain levels of mercury in them, which is harmful to you and your baby. This also includes your favorite alcoholic beverages and caffeine items that can impact your child’s growth.
Final Thoughts
Your pregnancy is a monumental occasion in your life and one that deserves celebration. However, before you can cradle your baby in your arms, you need to ensure they are developing as they should, with no potential risks in their path.
You need to eliminate all dangerous habits you indulge in, including ignoring your well-being and safety.
Your doctor is your best friend during this time, and your mandatory checkups can give you helpful insight into your fetus. Furthermore, maintain the right weight, diet, and exercise routine that benefits you physically and mentally.
As a result, you will enjoy an easy birth and stay healthy post-delivery.
