4 Important Health Tips for Pregnant Women
Pregnancy isn't all about the fun times , hangouts with other moms, buying batman baby clothes or eating all the chocolate you can, there can be tough times too. You have just found out that you are pregnant and you are feeling many emotions that range from anxiety to elation which is all to be expected. In fact, you may be finding yourself daydreaming when it comes to decorating the nursery as well as purchasing baby rompers for your arrival that is due to come in a matter of months!
However, at the same time, you will have understandable concerns and you are also not going to be feeling your best. The best thing to do in order to feel as well as you can, even if an unexpected pregnancy complications were to creep up (don't focus on that though, we are going to be focusing on the good), you need to take care of your health! It is important that you do so you can manage your pregnancy as well as you can and it is essential for the unborn baby.
In order to do that, you will need to follow the essential health tips during pregnancy so you can give yourself and your unborn baby the best care. Let's go over the 4 important health tips you need to utilize right now during pregnancy.1. Pay Attention To Weight Gain
Weight gain during pregnancy is important, but you want to be careful with how much weight you should gain. Remember that you are not going to be literally eating for two. In the second and third trimesters, you will increase your caloric intake by 15 to 25 percent. The rule of thumb is that if you are underweight, or if you have a BMI that is under 18 percent, you will need to gain 28 to 40 lbs. If you are at an optimal weight which is a BMI that is from 19 to 25, then the optimal weight gain would be 25 to 35 lbs.
If you are overweight which means you have a BMI of 26 to 30, then you should only gain between 15 to 25 lbs, and if you are obese which means you have a BMI of over 30, then you should only gain from 11 to 20 lbs. It is essential to stick to these guidelines in order to reduce the risk of running into pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes.
2. Stick To Eating Healthy And Safe Foods
In order to provide the best for yourself and your unborn baby, you need to consume vitamin and mineral rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, dairy, legumes, whole grains, and nuts. Fish such as salmon and halibut are rich in fatty acids but you only want to stick to 3 servings a week as even though they have little mercury, it is best to not consume too much. Mercury can cause neurological damage in the unborn baby which is why you are advised to stay away from fish that is high in mercury levels.
Fish that are high in mercury are swordfish, shark meat, king mackerel, orange roughy, and catfish which you will not want to eat during pregnancy. Tuna is higher in mercury than salmon but it is safe to have one of a can of white tuna a week. You will also want to make sure that you stay away from unpasteurized dairy and other foods as they can host harmful bacteria to your unborn baby. That goes for most soft cheeses and blue cheese. The same goes for raw foods and meat, and foods that have been sitting out in room temperature for several hours. Don't eat salad from a bag either as that can host harmful bacteria as well.
You also know to stay away from booze, drugs, and cigarettes.
3. Get The Right Amount And The Right Type Of Exercise
Getting physical activity is important because you need to keep the circulation going which is important for the unborn baby and to help ensure your health during pregnancy. Now you want to only be active in moderation because doing too much strenuous exercise can cause you and the unborn baby a lot of stress. That means don't run marathons and don't lift weights! The ideal type of exercise to do is by taking a brisk walk for a half an hour for 5 days a week. You can lift some light weights, and you can take a prenatal yoga class.
With that said, you don't want to be sedentary, but you don't want to overdo it. You also don't want to take brisk walks when it is too hot outside. Excess heat can reduce your blood pressure which also means you will need to stay away from hot baths and saunas. Getting the right type and right amount of exercise will also help reduce fatigue levels so you will be more energetic.
4. Drink Plenty Of Water
Staying hydrated is essential for anyone's health. However, when you are pregnant, it is even more important that you drink no less than 6 but try to keep it at around 10 glasses a day. Proper hydration will help keep your circulation going, keep your energy levels up, will help reduce nausea, and will keep you cool inside.
This is exactly why the unfortunate moms who have a hard time with morning sickness do get relief when they do have enough fluids even if they need to drink more water than the recommended amount due to them being sick more. Never neglect to get that important H2O.
When you utilize these 4 important health tips during pregnancy, then you will increase your chances of having a healthy and easy pregnancy. There is no guarantee, but the odds are with you. And you will not only be pleased with how the baby is developing inside of you, but you can be even more excited about making plans for the big arrival. You can start decorating the nursery, as well as making a list of the organic baby onesies that you will want to get for your baby! Best of luck to you, and stay healthy and happy!
