Pregnant And Confused?
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
Pregnant And Confused? Here’s What To Do Next!
Pregnancy can be a great and exciting period in your life if you handle it correctly. You have many different options you can pursue in order to have a healthier pregnancy. Maintaining a physically healthy body will also ensure the healthy development of your unborn baby. The following few paragraphs focus on different ways you can stay healthy while pregnant.
Do not neglect your partner’s needs when you are expecting a baby. They are probably as unsettled about some of the changes pregnancy brings about as you are, and can need some assurance as well. Spend lots of time doing things together, from long walks to watching movies. Cherish the dwindling time you have alone together before the new addition arrives.
Your doctor will test your iron levels on a regular basis, and you should also keep an eye on your intake. When you are pregnant, having a deficiency in iron can cause extreme fatigue. Also, it can cause your baby to be born underweight. Your prenatal vitamin should include iron, and you should supplement it with iron-rich foods.
In your second, and third trimesters you should only increase your calorie intake by about 300 calories per day. Gaining too much weight during pregnancy may lead to high blood pressure, diabetes and even a longer labor. Make sure you are consuming nutritious food, and stop eating when you no longer feel hungry.
If you intent to adopt a healthier lifestyle and more nutritious eating habits, invite a friend or family member to join you in your efforts. Doing this as a team will make the changes easier on you and lead to less stress in your relationship down the road.
Pregnant And Confused?
Consider hiring a doula to assist you with your delivery. What’s a doula? It’s a person who works to support a woman through her pregnancy, especially as she gives birth. The doula can offer all types of support, whether it be emotional during the pregnancy term, or natural childbirth assistance, if that is what you desire.
When your water breaks, you should talk to your doctor to be certain. It’s common to not know for sure. But if it did break, you need to let your doctor know.
Try to avoid situations where you must sit for extended periods of time. Many pregnant women suffer with badly swollen ankles and feet towards the end of the day. Swelling occurs because lack of circulation occurs to the lower half of the body while sitting. The longer you sit, the worse the swelling can become. Try reducing the swelling by lying on your side ass you sleep, soaking your feet in water and by avoiding crossing your legs while sitting.
Take the time to eat a small serving of bland foods every couple of hours when you are pregnant. These foods fill your stomach and keep the acid levels low, easing your morning sickness. Don’t make pregnancy-related problems like nausea and heartburn worse by eating acidic or greasy foods.
There are things you should and shouldn’t do while you are pregnant to protect your health and that of your baby. Use the tips above to ensure that you pregnancy is a healthy and joyous time that will culminate with the birth of your healthy baby.