Finally, the pregnancy test kit showed positive! You double-check by going to an ob-gyne and after undergoing a battery of tests the doctor confirmed that you really are pregnant.
Pregnancy brings so much joy to a family. However, it can also pose innumerable health risks to both mother and baby. Pregnancy is oftentimes one of the most awaited events in a woman's life, especially if the woman has had a hard time trying to conceive. This means that when a woman is pregnant taking some precautions for health maintenance is essential.
Here are some tips that a pregnant woman can employ to ensure the health of her baby and herself, too.
Eat well, conceive well.
It's not true that you have to eat for two when pregnant. Eating more than the amount of food that is enough for one person will only cause unwanted bloat. According to research, a pregnant woman only needs an extra 200 to 300 calories per day. And maybe you might be already eating those extra calories. Eating healthy food will do the mother and the young life inside the mother just right.
Those extra calories should not come from junk food.
Supplement your wellness.
A pregnant mom should take a vitamin supplement that contains folic acid, better even before conception and during early pregnancy. Why folic acid? This micro-mineral, which is found mostly on green leafy veggies, when taken 400 mcg daily before and during early pregnancy, can reduce the risk of having babies born with neural tube defects.
Away with your vices.
It might have been hard for you to quit smoking and your alcohol intake. Now is the essential time for you to rethink your actions. Nicotine from cigarettes and alcohol from alcoholic beverages can harm your growing baby. Usually, babies from mothers who have been smoking are born with low average birth weight, are prone to being born prematurely, and more often die from sudden infant death syndrome compared to babies of non-smoking moms.
Caffeine is one substance that should be avoided, too. So, say goodbye to your espressos and brewed fraps for your baby's sake.
Precautions champions.
Even before pregnancy, it won't hurt to get prenatal care. Make sure that you are immune to certain diseases that might affect your pregnancy. An example of these diseases that a pregnant woman should be cautious of is rubella or German measles. Knowing your blood type will also help you prepare for any medical condition that you might encounter during pregnancy.
Exercise properly for you and your baby.
Exercising is an excellent way to help keep a pregnant woman fit, as well as her baby. However, there are certain conditions that ob-gyne needs to approve before a pregnant woman can do any exercise. Important forms of exercise that can be done during pregnancy include those that help improve the muscles' endurance. Stretching helps a lot, too. But all of these activities should be done with plenty of precautions, of course.
It's simple really - if a woman would like to have a healthy pregnancy, she has to simply have a healthy lifestyle.
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