Becoming a mother is always an exciting time for every woman. You’ll be bringing another life into the world. Being pregnant celebrates the child’s life and, most importantly, the mother’s unending love for her children.
This is why many women worldwide become inspired to make choices in their lifestyle that would make them healthier throughout their nine-month pregnancy.
With that said, here are seven ways to help women stay healthy during their pregnancy.
Consult a Dietitian
When a woman becomes pregnant, their appetite usually changes. They would tend to have a bigger appetite as they’re now eating for two.
Traditionally, pregnant women are given free rein on the food they want to eat, especially those considered their favorites.
Pregnant women would also have consultations with their OB-Gyne. The latter would also work hand in hand with a dietitian, especially if it’s a high-risk pregnancy.
Working and consulting with a dietitian enables both doctor and patient to look at the specific diet and food that could help during the pregnancy.
In the United States and the United Kingdom, this is a common practice, and many people from other countries are following suit. Dietitian consultations for pregnant women are also becoming popular in Australia.
Numerous soon-to-be Aussie mothers are availing of these services in order to have a well-balanced diet and avoid risky conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, elevated blood pressure, etc.
So if you are an Aussie pregnant woman in Carlton, Kensington, or the Southbank, consult the best dietician melbourne offers.
Eat Healthy Food
Pregnant women must consume healthy food and a lot of water according to dietary and caloric recommendations. This is crucial because the food you intake contributes to the growth and development of your babies.
Among the food is advisable you should eat are:
- Lean meats – provide vitamin A and potassium.
- Fruits and Vegetables – provide potassium, calcium, and vitamins A and D.
- Whole Grains – provide iron, fiber, and folic acid.
- Fat-Free or Low-Fat Milk – provides vitamin D and calcium.
- Protein from Healthy Sources – provides amino acid.
Drink Supplements
Aside from proper food, prenatal supplements, and vitamins are also beneficial. It provides additional nutrients and vitamins to pregnant women. Ask your OB-Gyne what prenatal supplements you can drink. These supplements can include:
- Calcium
- Iron
- Folic Acid
- Vitamins
Do Physical Activities
Being pregnant should not hinder you from being physically active. There are physical activities that pregnant women can do.
Low-impact and moderate-intensity physical activities like walking, pilates, yoga, elliptical, and water exercises are great choices. These will provide you with numerous benefits, including:
- reduction of the discomfort symptoms like back pain, swelling, and constipation
- prevention of excess weight gain
- improvement of sleep, energy, and mood
- preparation of the body for labor
- reducing birth recovery time
However, if you’re having a high-risk pregnancy, doing physical activities should only be limited. If you’re having a high-risk pregnancy, follow your doctor’s advice on activity.
Get Enough Sleep
It is always essential that when you’re pregnant, you get enough sleep. Having at least seven to nine hours of sleep per day is recommended as it reduces stress and tiredness.
Moreover, insufficient sleep can cause elevated blood pressure and contractions in pregnant women.
An elevated blood pressure coupled with stress and fatigue causes the body to work more. It strains the pregnancy, and we don’t want that to happen.
Consequently, having the most comfortable sleep becomes much harder as you progress in your pregnancy. These are some of the sleeping positions you can use when you sleep:
- Lying on the side, knees bent – keeps the baby’s weight from pressuring large heart vessels and prevents varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and leg swelling.
- Sleeping on the left side – helps the following of the blood to the placenta.
- Using a prop pillow between the legs and behind the back – takes some pressure off the back.
Have Regular Checkups
Going to your doctor during pregnancy is essential. It helps ensure your baby’s growth and development in the womb is alright.
If doctors discover any anomalies in your pregnancy, doctors can immediately propose solutions.
They’re the ones who know the science of pregnancy, and having regular checkups with them is surely beneficial to pregnant women and their unborn children.
Complete All the Tests
During the nine-month pregnancy, pregnant women will undergo a lot of tests. You must complete every single one. Each test serves a valuable purpose.
It helps determine the baby’s current growth and development, provides information about the baby’s health, and optimizes the baby’s prenatal care.
The genetic screening test helps diagnose potential genetic disorders the baby may have before birth.
While first-trimester screening tests help determine the risk of having congenital disabilities through fetal ultrasound and maternal blood testing.
The second-trimester prenatal screening test provides information and detail on the risks mothers face when carrying babies with genetic conditions or congenital disabilities.
Final Thoughts
Pregnancy is a rollercoaster experience. Being pregnant and carrying a life form within you is not easy. However, becoming a mother is also a fulfillment and achievement in itself.
As such, remembering the aforementioned seven ways to stay healthy during pregnancy is key to a happy and safe pregnancy.
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