Every pregnancy is unique, and even if you were pregnant earlier, each pregnancy requires special care and rest.
From eating right to keeping stress at bay to following an overall healthy lifestyle, it is important that you give more attention to yourself, and your unborn baby. Follow these healthy tips through your pregnancy months to make sure that you and your baby are safe and healthy.
5 Pregnancy Health Tips You Definitely Need To Follow
1. Prenatal Vitamin
If you are trying to conceive or have already conceived, it is important to start taking your prenatal vitamins. Speak to your doctor to know which one will work best for you. Prenatal vitamins are very important for your baby, as they will help in overall growth and development. The first month is especially crucial, when your baby’s neural cord will develop and form the brain and the spinal cord.
You may feel queasy when you take the prenatal vitamins. Try having it along with a light snack or take it at night.
2. Kegel Exercise
Any form of exercise that you do during your pregnancy will keep your body active and flexible, which can assist in birth. Make sure that you first speak to your doctor and get a go-ahead. Kegel exercises will help to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. These are the muscles that support your uterus, and keeping them flexible will make vaginal birth easier. The best part about Kegel exercises is that you can do them anywhere, at home, at your work chair, in your car, and even when you are standing.
To practice Kegel exercise, all you have to do is squeeze in your pelvic muscles as if you are trying to hold in your pee, hold it like that for about 3 to 5 seconds, relax and then repeat again.
3. Increase Folate Consumption
Your doctor will put you on folic acid the moment you plan to conceive or get pregnant. Folic acid is very important for your baby’s growth and the development of the neural tube. It will also help to form the red blood cells in your baby. In addition to the folic acid tablet, you can also include fresh sources of folate in your diet.
Some folate rich foods are oranges, spinach, broccoli, peas, nuts, lentils, turnips greens, fortified cereals, avocado and citrus fruits.
4. Sleeping On The Left
When you are pregnant, the best position for you to sleep in is on the left side. When you lie down on your left, your baby gets the highest amount of blood and nutrients that are important for overall growth. If you are unable to sleep on your left side at all times, you can follow the SOS approach, which means Sleep On Side.
Lie down on your left side, bend your knees and place a pillow between your legs to stay comfortable. It will help you lie down comfortably and sleep better.
5. Visit The Dentist
You may not see any connection between your pregnancy and a visit to the dentist, but your dental health and hygiene plays a crucial role in your pregnancy health. When you are pregnant, your fluctuating hormones can really affect your oral health. As a result, you can experience swelling and bleeding from gums, tenderness in the gums, bacteria build up as well as stinking breath. If you have any pain and discomfort, your doctor will have to put you on medication, which is not advisable when you are pregnant. Alternatively, you may have to bear the pain without medication, which can cause a lot of discomfort.
Regularly get your teeth and gums tested by your dentist. You can also suck on a stick of cinnamon or a pod of cardamom on a regular basis, as these are good for your oral health and prevent bad breath.
