5 Things to remember to maintain a healthy pregnancy
As soon as you do realize that you are expecting a new member in your life, you obviously like doing right by them. What you need to remember however, is that you cannot do right by them without doing right by yourself. So remembering to take care of yourself is of the utmost importance to ensure you and your baby stay healthy and happy.
The first thing you ought to do is to go to your doctor on advice as to how you should proceed taking care of yourself including what sort of diet you should be having and what exercises would suit you the best, that kind of thing! Apart from that, here are a few things that you really need to remember to ensure and maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Eat Healthy:
Of course, indulging in the occasional cravings does not do any harm, but that only remains true when the indulgence is limited and monitored. Overindulging in junk can only end up harming you and your baby in-turn. A healthy, balanced diet is what you should be looking at to maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Include the following in your daily diet for a balanced meal.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Whole grain breads and pastas because you do need carbs during this time
- Protein like dal, nuts and beans if you are vegan/vegetarian or fish and lean meats if you are not.
- Foods that are rich in calcium like dairy products
Exercise:
No, it is not counter-productive to workout during your pregnancy, unless your doctor or healthcare provider has told you otherwise. There are plenty of benefits to exercising regularly even when you are pregnant.
- Helps one tone down and cope with the strain that your joints go through this time quite effectively
- Although it is perfectly normal for one to put on weight during pregnancy, so is maintaining a healthy weight, and this is where exercises help
- Helps bring down blood pressure effectively
- Also helps boost mood
Quit alcohol and smoking and cut down on the caffeine:
When alcohol is had during the first or third trimester is has been shown to be quite unhealthy for the baby. In the first trimester, it has been known to cause miscarriages, and if it is had during the third trimester, then the chances of the child developing issues in brain development is there.
Caffeine, similar to alcohol has been known to cause miscarriages and it can also lead to low-birth weight in new-borns.
Smoking might just be one of the worst things you can do to your body and to your baby when you are pregnant. From premature birth, low-birth weight and even still births, smoking is a huge no-no when it comes to giving up thigs during this time.
Supplements:
Sometimes it so happens that by even taking a proper balanced diet, you are not able to meet the increased nutrient needs of your body. This is where supplements come into play as they ensure that your health is in top shape to bring a new life into this world.
Sleep, rest:
No, you needn’t do every chore around the house during this time. Sometimes kicking the feet up and just relaxing is the best thing you can do for yourself during this time around. Being constantly tired and under fatigue is not going to help anyone!
We hope that you have gone through the article and that you agree with it as well. Have a happy and healthy pregnancy!