Safe Exercises That You Can Do During Pregnancy

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

While some things during pregnancy you cannot control, other areas you can, and you should take positive action in order to better your pregnancy and the health of your baby. You can start right now to make the best choices you can by using the information below.

Even if you never snored prior to pregnancy, you may find yourself snoring frequently when you are expecting. Your nasal membranes tend to swell during pregnancy and the result is snoring. If it becomes a sleep disturbance to your partner, you can try nasal strips to open up your nasal airways. Your partner may wish to wear earplugs if the snoring is too bad.

Don’t clean the cat’s litter box while you’re pregnant. The chemicals in soiled cat litter can be harmful to a woman, and her fetus, during pregnancy. Get someone else to take care of the litter box until after the baby is born. Your spouse should be happy to take over this chore for the baby’s sake. If you aren’t married, don’t be afraid to ask a friend or family member to clean the litter box for you during your pregnancy.

Consider getting a doula for when you are delivering your child. A doula’s a woman who supports pregnant mothers. She is a pillar of support while you’re pregnant, an advocate for your wishes during labor, and even a source of advice postpartum.

When pregnant, support your body, while you sleep. You can find various body pillows specifically designed for those who are pregnant at a number of stores. If you can’t find one, use a normal pillow to support yourself. Try to sleep with a pillow beneath your knees and one beneath your stomach.

Create a routine at bedtime, as this may help you sleep better while you are pregnant. Your body will be more aware of it being sleep time if you have a regular routine each night. You can take a warm bath, do a little light reading, or ask your significant other for a massage.

For pregnant women that are in their 3rd trimester, it is advisable to sleep on their left side. This position facilitates blood flow to your baby, as well as to your uterus and kidneys. Try to not sleep on your back, as you don’t get adequate blood flow in this position.

Make sure you pay special attention to your teeth when you are pregnant. You gums may be extra sensitive because of the increased hormone production and there may be some swelling or bleeding during brushing and flossing. It is recommended pregnant women brush with a softer toothbrush, and while flossing is still important, it needs to be done more gently.

Make sure you know all of the signs of premature labor. Take in as much information as you can about this, so that you can make contact your doctor at the right moment.

Don’t hesitate to call the doctor if you believe your water has broken. A lot of women have gone through this situation before you, and if it did break, your child needs to be born within a definitive amount of time to avoid infection.

Take a swim during pregnancy. Putting on a swimsuit while your belly is bulging sounds really embarrassing, but the practical benefits of doing so outweigh this embarrassment. The body will feel weightless when in water, and this sensation is wonderfully productive for reducing joint pains and stress. It also doubles as a great work out.

So as you have read in the article, there are things that you can do to help make your pregnancy better, instead of just sitting back and feeling completely out of control. Use the advice offered above to take your pregnancy experience into your own hands and have the kind of pregnancy you want and deserve.