4 Things to Do Before and During Pregnancy
It’s important for women and their partners to always know what to do during pregnancy. Some of these things already need to be started even before conception sets in. If this isn’t your first pregnancy, then you already have some first-hand experience about the whole process. However, if this is your first time, there are quite a number of things you need to know to increase the chances of delivering a healthy baby and also keep yourself safe.
Pregnancy is a very important and delicate occurrence which requires specific care and attention at all times. There are many cases of complications during pregnancy or at childbirth that could easily have been avoided if the mother took the right steps in ensuring a healthy baby. Before you get pregnant, you must be sure you’re ready to make certain important lifestyle changes to increase the likelihood of a safe birth and healthy child. Here are a few things you should do.
Related: Check Homemade Baby Food Recipes
See a Doctor
Preferably, you should see an obstetrician-gynaecologist (OB-GYN). This is a healthcare professional who specialises in the female body and health, especially as it relates to pregnancy. You need to have regular meetings with a healthcare professional where you discuss important information like your personal and family medical history, your current state of health, and also disclose any medications you’re probably using. This will help the doctor design a proper lifestyle pattern for you. During your pregnancy, an OB-GYN will also do periodic scans to ensure the health of your baby. Visit The Surrey Park Clinic for a professional private pregnancy scan to ensure your baby is healthy.
Seek Out Balanced Meals
It is very important to aim for healthy body weight, and the best way to do this is to seek out a balanced diet. While pregnant, you need to eat a lot more fruits and vegetables and also try to add more grains to your meals. In addition, eat more foods that are rich in protein.
Pregnant women should avoid artificial sweeteners and caffeine as much as possible. There should also be a reduced intake of seafood because it contains mercury, which could be harmful to the unborn child. Generally, you should also control quantity because expectant mothers who are overweight are more prone to certain problems like miscarriage, high blood pressure, or even a stillbirth.
Exercise
Exercise should be non-negotiable. This is because it’s a great way to help your body handle all the rapid changes that come with pregnancy and could also help with labour. You don’t exactly have to be a gym rat. If you take hurried walks for about half an hour, 5 or 6 days a week, your body would definitely thank you for it. Do this before you get pregnant and also while you’re pregnant.
Rest
As much as possible, take a lot more rest than you normally would. It’s very important to reduce stress to the barest minimum and replace it with a lot more relaxation. This would greatly improve your health and that of your unborn baby.
Generally, you should make sure to take extra care of yourself in the period leading up to pregnancy and also while pregnant. If you can, get someone to help you with stressful work or chores that might drain you of too much energy. Lastly, don’t miss your doctor’s appointments, especially for prenatal care.