Best Practices for a Healthy Pregnancy

Optimizing your health during pregnancy or the pregnancy phase gives your baby the best start to life. There are a lot of lifestyle adjustments and dos and don’ts during pregnancy. Some may sound bizarre, such as “eating for two.” But maintaining a healthy pregnancy requires prenatal consultations with Dr. Pamela Snook, limiting caffeine intake, exercising, and other best practices that this article will delve into.

Seek Reputable Prenatal Care

If you are planning a pregnancy or are already pregnant, the single best thing you can do for yourself and the baby is to schedule a prenatal visit. Before eight weeks of pregnancy, you should see a gynecologist or your obstetrician. Early prenatal care sets the tentative delivery date and provides a guideline, including nutrition tips, exercise tips, and more tips on successfully carrying the pregnancy to term.

During your first prenatal visit, the doctor will run physical tests to evaluate your health and may perform an ultrasound to gauge the development of the fetus. Subsequent prenatal visits will reveal the baby’s position in the womb and gender, which is an additional bonus.

Get Your Prenatal Vitamins and Supplements

A balanced diet is essential for good health. During pregnancy, you’ll need to up the ante by stocking on prenatal vitamins and ingesting supplements to keep you and the growing fetus healthy. Calcium, iron, and folic acid are some nutrients you’ll need to increase their uptake. Prenatal vitamins and prescribed supplements are sources of much-needed supplements. However, you will still need a healthy diet to meet your daily calorie needs.

Exercise

Daily exercises help you cope with the strains that pregnancy brings. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises about 150 minutes of exercise daily. Low- to moderate-intensity exercises are ideal for core strength. You can double up with Kegel exercises to build strength, which is perfect for vaginal delivery. Before beginning any practice, talk to your massage therapist or a doctor. Some activities cause pain during pregnancy. As a general rule of thumb, do not attempt high-octane exercises.

Get Plenty of Rest

Pregnancy causes unexplainable exhaustion. The episodic fatigue that hits you is your body telling you to get some rest. Lighten your load, even if it involves taking a break from work. Have family members around to help you with laundry and other house chores.

During your breaks, catch a nap. The best sleeping position while pregnant is lying on your side for improved circulation. If you have trouble sleeping, consider yoga or meditation before bed. It is not good practice to exercise before bed.

Cut Out Alcohol, Smoking and Recreational Drugs

During pregnancy, you must sacrifice indulgences such as smoking, drinking, and participating in recreational drugs. Smoking and alcohol increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth and premature birth. Drinking heavily also poses severe psychological and behavioral damage to your unborn baby. Similarly, avoid recreational drugs and nicotine and cut back on caffeine. During your prenatal visit, speak to your doctor about continuing with your current medication. Blood clotting medicines may cause complications during pregnancy.

Leading a healthy and active lifestyle during pregnancy increases the chances of delivering a healthy baby. Early prenatal visits will help you spot any complications and correct them. Following the best practices for a healthy pregnancy gives your baby the healthy start it needs.