Your body and you will have a lot of information to take in. There are tons of tips available to help relax expectant parents. Here are a few of them.
You should be taking prenatal vitamins prior to getting pregnant. The initial trimester of your pregnancy is when your baby starts growing his neural cord that eventually develops into a spinal cord and brain. It is very important that you get correct amounts of iron, calcium and folic acid in preparation for and during pregnancy.
Take documents that detail the prenatal care you’ve received to this point, so you will be prepared in the event of an unexpected complication.
Talk with your doctor before planning any travel. Bring any prenatal medical records, just in case.
Pregnant women need to be as much stress from their lives as possible.Stress affects the mom and the unborn baby. In some instances, extreme amounts of stress can cause the baby to be born too soon.
Avoiding stress while pregnant is imperative. Too much stress may pose a variety of problems, not only to the woman, but also to the baby she is carrying. Sometimes, in certain cases, extreme stress can cause a premature birth.
Cat Litter
When you are pregnant, you should inspect the chemicals in your home, and remove any that could harm your baby. This means laundry detergent, dish soap, and window cleaners, as a start. If possible, use natural alternatives. Once you have had the baby, make sure these chemicals are not in your home to ensure they don’t cause any harm.
Don’t touch your cat’s litter box if you’re pregnant. Soiled cat litter contains chemicals that are very harmful to pregnant women. Have either your spouse or, neighbor, a friend or family member change your cat litter for you.
Limit the amount of Vitamin A you consume. Vitamin A can be harmful to the embryo. Avoid Vitamin A-rich foods such as mangos, egg yolks, mozzarella cheese, and liver. Eat very small portions of these foods once in a while if you want to.
Leg cramps happen a common issue for pregnant women. Stretch your legs before bed to try to prevent leg cramps. Staying properly hydrated and eating potassium-rich foods will also help.
If your due date has came and gone and you’re ready for your baby to come, give walking a shot. Walking is not only healthy, but it can also lower you baby into a position where it can more easily be born. Have someone accompany you on your walk. Make sure that you reduce contact exercise at all times while pregnant.
You should not consume anything caffeinated beverages when pregnant.Caffeine can interfere with your ability to get the sleep that is essential to stay healthy. Try to eat crackers throughout the day if you feel nauseous. Your sleep patterns will improve if you eat a proper diet.
If you are going to have a baby, consider eating bland foods during the day, like crackers. If you eat bland foods, they will help reduce nausea and vomiting. Don’t make pregnancy-related problems like nausea and heartburn worse by eating acidic or greasy foods.
Stay clear of saunas or hot tubs during pregnancy. An overheated body can be very bad for your baby. You should avoid rosemary, clary sage, in particular.
When you are pregnant and have to travel, avoid places where medical care is not close by. It’s essential that you stay near good doctors at all times. Complications can arise at any time. Make sure you also have a phone on your person every time you travel.
Pregnancy can make a woman’s sense of smell more sensitive than normal, even smells that are in your life on a daily basis can make you sick. If you find this to often be the case, you can carry a scented handkerchief to counteract the offensive smells. You can grab the handkerchief and hold it to your nose as you pass anything which bother you.
Pack your hospital bag well in advance of your due date. It is better to be prepared in advance and to have the peace of mind of knowing you are ready. Have everything you need ready including your birth plan, your camera, batteries and your insurance information.
Look at thrift stores and consignment shops when shopping for maternity clothes. There is no reason to pay retail prices for clothes that you will only wear for a short amount of time. You will save money and helping the environment by decreasing the environmental effects that come from making and shipping all new clothes.
Have pictures and stories prepared to share with your baby once they are older. Children get a big kick out of this. Take a lot of pictures and make notes so you can share them with your kids later.
Human skin does have room to stretch thanks to elasticity, but the skin can only stretch so much. Hot water rids skin off its oils and cause it to itch more. Use a heavy moisturizer, such as petroleum jelly, or shea butter. Wear loose fitting clothes, don’t scratch!
Talk to the baby in your belly. They begin to respond to touch at 10 weeks along. Not long afterwards, your baby will begin hearing voices and reacting to light. When you take time to talk to the baby, a bond begins to be formed.
Discuss childcare with your significant other the responsibilities each of you deliver your baby.
Skin has elasticity, but it can only stretch so far. While the pregnant belly grows, it’s common to become itchy. Avoid taking a hot shower or bath to try to soothe your skin. A hot bath or shower can actually produce more itching because excessively hot water will wash away essential oils that keep skin moist. Use a heavy moisturizer, such as petroleum jelly, vitamin E or cocoa butter. Wear loose, comfortable clothes and whatever you do, don’t scratch.
A little preparation before you become pregnant can make for a long way.
Keep your stress under control during pregnancy by making to-do lists and setting your priorities so that the important tasks will be done first. Often times, you will be able to delegate certain tasks to loved ones. Sometimes, you might be able to drop unimportant tasks from your list, also.
If you are pregnant for the first time, you should sign up for a class on childbirth. Your hospital classes also include a tour of the labor and tours so you know what you will experience.
Eat a snack or small meal before you trek out to shop for groceries. You may crave some unhealthy foods when you become pregnant. The healthier you eat, the better for you and your child. By having a satisfied stomach when grocery shopping, you aren’t as likely to purchase an item that isn’t on the list.
The sun has the ability to make your skin moreso while pregnant. You can easily skip out on this facial redness by protecting your face when you have this.
If you spend a lot of time outdoors, use more sunscreen than normal. Melanin production is increased when the sun strikes your skin, especially when you are pregnant. This can cause a condition called “pregnancy mask.” This turns your face red, but it is avoidable.
When you are pregnant, you will want to take extra-special care of your teeth. Your gums may swell and maybe even bleed from brushing and flossing as you brush or floss with the increase in pregnancy hormones. It is recommended you use a toothbrush with soft bristles and floss, but be gentler when you do so.
Pelvic tilts are a great way to reduce the lower back pain associated with pregnancy. To perform this move, kneel while raising your back. These positions are often identified with “cat” and “cow” nicknames. The cat position involves raising the pelvis while the cow position involves lowering it. These pelvic tilts have helped a lot of pregnant women find relief from lower back pain. They can also move the baby into the best position for birth.
Talk to your doctor prior to trying for a child. Your doctor will be able to give you a thorough check-up to ensure you’re ready to have a baby. You should address issues such as obesity, thyroid issues or weight problems can be addressed as necessary.
Learn everything you possibly can about pregnancy and childbirth. Read up about pregnancy and what you can expect in books and magazines. There are many good books available that you can follow week-by-week through your pregnancy, and answer any of your questions. Make sure to understand that your experience will be unique though.
Heartburn is extremely common complaint for pregnant women. Pregnancy heartburn can be caused by the hormone, progesterone, flood the body and lead to heartburn. To avoid this, stay away from spicy, fatty or spicy foods, especially any time you may be laying down. Sleep with your head slightly elevated pillow so as to keep your stomach acid activity. Talk to your doctor about the types of antacids that you can consume while pregnant if it becomes unbearable.
Take advantage of any opportunity to hold or babysit infants that you know. That way, you will understand what caring for a baby entails. This will ease your fears and prepare you to care for your own child.
Make sure that you learn all you can about your pregnancy. Find a book to help you. There is a variety of books that will give you week-by-week information to answer your questions and calm your fears.
Heartburn can be an annoying factor during a pregnancy. The most sensible way to eliminate heartburn, or reduce the symptoms, is to stay away from certain foods that can cause it. Foods such as chocolate, caffeine and spicy foods are all known causes of heartburn. Eat smaller meals and eat slow, chew your food and then swallow it.
Take care of any opportunity to hold or an entire day. This will allow you prepared for having your own little one around. It will make you to be less nervous after you have your own baby.
Your due date is an estimation and should be treated that way. Try not to look at your due date as a date that is set in stone. Focus on the pregnancy itself instead, and enjoy your alone time while you have it.
Fatty Acids
Try kegel exercises. These are virtually undetectable movements that you can do any place at all. Do 10 sets, holding each about 3 seconds. These exercises, when done regularly, will make your pelvic floor stronger and your delivery much easier. The exercises can help treat incontinence as well.
Taking care of your skin can help reduce the chance of stretch marks. Make sure you get plenty of essential fatty acids daily. These are the “good” fats that a body requires to work properly. Fatty acids that are found in flax seed or fish oil keep skin looking healthy and youthful.
To make sure your baby grows to be healthy, don’t smoke or consume alcohol when you’re pregnant. Harmful substances like illegal drugs, tobacco and alcohol should be avoided. Only take prescription drugs prescribed by a doctor who is aware of your pregnancy. This is why you should only ingest healthy foods while pregnant and avoid anything that could possibly injure your child.
Do not be influenced by popular culture to dictate what happens during your pregnancy. Celebrities wear super high heels and shed the weight quickly, but don’t feel that you have to emulate that. Keep in mind that they drop their extra weight swiftly after pregnancy due to personal trainers.
You should visit your general practitioner for a consultation when you are thinking of becoming pregnant. Knowing what you are getting into can eliminate much of the worry. This also helps to ensure that you are in the right physical and mental shape to handle pregnancy. Sometimes your health may preclude becoming pregnant.
Just remember, pregnancy eventually ends. In nine month, both the mother and the father will get to move into the next stage – parenthood. Studying up on pregnancy can help make those nine month breeze by rather than drag on.
Start adjusting your diet before becoming pregnant, or as soon as possible after you learn you are pregnant. Healthy eating habits are important when you are pregnant and your growing child eats what you do. In addition, your baby will have more of a taste for healthy foods once they are born.