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Every pregnancy is unique, and so are the experiences that every woman goes through at this time. Although, there is no rule of thumb while it comes to predicting how pregnancy will pan out for you, there are certain ways and methods you can use to keep yourself healthy and lower the risk of contracting infections during this special, yet delicate time.
And here, we have compiled some tips that are good for every kind of pregnancy; high-risk, low-risk, or otherwise.
1. Rest
This is probably the easiest advice to give, but the most difficult to follow. You need to remember that you won’t get to sleep much once your baby is born. Moreover, the trials and tribulations of handling a pregnancy can leave you weak and wanting to relax. Unfortunately, you cannot accumulate sleep and feel less tired later, but it can’t hurt to enjoy plenty of rest during your pregnancy.
2. Vitamins are your friends
You may be following the healthiest diet out there, and ensuring that you get enough of all those vital nutrients for your unborn baby’s development. Some key nutrients that you must include are calcium, folate, and iron. These minerals are essential for bone development, central nervous system and oxygenation in your unborn baby’s body.
Experts usually recommend that you supplement your food with a dose of prenatal and postnatal vitamins. Multivitamin supplements are quite crucial for fetal development, and promote a healthy environment for your fetus to grow. Moreover, these supplements also help overcome any nutritional gaps and provide lesser known and not commonly available B-vitamins.
3. Avoid stress
Stress is not good for the body, even more so when you’re pregnant. It triggers cortisol release, which apart from triggering conditions like muscle weakness, diabetes and obesity, can also affect the fetus. Experts conclude that babies of moms with elevated levels of cortisol in their body take longer to calm down and are moodier than their peers.
4. Trust your doctor
While this is something that most woman take for granted, it is rather important. If you don’t trust your OB/Gyn to make the right decision for you, or do what’s best for your body, chances are you will have a stressful pregnancy. We spoke about how stress hormone cortisol can leave long lasting effects on your infant’s temperament. The last thing you’d want to do is let the doctor be the one causing all that infant-temperament-wrecking stress for you. If you don’t trust your OB/Gyn, get a second opinion pronto.
5. Watch what you eat
If you are a sucker for old wives tales, you’d have been wondering when we were going to talk about food. Well, our reasons are a tad more scientific than eating ladyfinger to ensure that you have a boy. But, it’s rather obvious, isn’t it? You’re pregnant and you need to eat well, and eat food that is healthy for you and the fetus. We’ve already talked about essential nutrients above.
Note:
Don’t eat for two people. The baby isn’t as big as you are and doesn’t need as many nutrients. Ask your doctor to prepare a diet chart for you and follow it religiously.
Raising a baby can be tough and uncomfortable. But, at the end of it, the feeling of contentment will be indescribable. So, use these tips to ensure that you keep your body and your baby safe during your pregnancy.
