When you find out that you're pregnant, you'll probably hear about some of the things that you should and shouldn't do to maintain a healthy pregnancy. From eating the right foods to avoiding certain behaviors that include smoking and drinking, you'll find that most of the advice that you receive should be followed. The best thing that you can do to stay healthy while pregnant and after the baby is born is to follow the recommendations that your doctor provides as the doctor knows what's best for your body.
There will probably be a multi-vitamin that the doctor will prescribe so that you get more of the essentials during the day as the baby will take some of the vitamins that are stored in the body. Folic acid is something that you want to make sure that you have during and after pregnancy as this helps the baby to develop and helps to maintain the milk in the body if you're breastfeeding. You also want to make sure that the vitamin you take includes calcium as this will keep bones strong and healthy. Prenatal vitamins are becoming more and more common, so they should be fairly easy to find at most drug stores.
The baby will get a portion of everything that you eat. The doctor will sometimes give you a list of foods that you should eat more of and those that you should avoid. You'll probably be told a recommended amount of weight that you should gain that depends on your weight before getting pregnant. If you're obese, then you want to try to limit the sugars and soft drinks, but if you're on the smaller side, then you might want to consider trying to gain a few additional pounds so that the baby has room to grow. As with any sort of weight loss or gain strategies, consult your physician to make sure you’re doing the right thing for your body and baby and doing it the right way.
One of the things that you'll have done while pregnant is a sonogram. This is similar to an ultrasound. The doctor will be able to see the baby's development in the womb and also be able to see if there are any issues with the cervix and other reproductive organs. Someone who has an online sonography degree can also perform the procedure, possibly being able to tell the gender of the baby. It's important to have the procedure done after the pregnancy to make sure that there are no health issues that might prevent you from getting pregnant again and to make sure that there isn't any cause for concern with other components in the stomach.
You want to try to get about 30 minutes of some kind of physical activity each day. This will help to keep the weight under control and help you lose the weight after the baby is born. While this can be pretty difficult if you’re far along in the pregnancy, there are still a good number of options to choose from. Taking regular walks is fairly common amongst pregnant women, along with other light cardio exercises.
Yoga is another great option, so long as you do it correctly. Obviously, you’ll want to avoid any of the prone positions like Bow or Locust Pose that put your weight on the belly, but you can still do many of the standing poses, twists, and stretches without risk. Aside from the obvious damage that can be done from lying prone, the biggest concern for practicing yoga while pregnant is an injury from falling. This can be prevented by giving yourself plenty of room to practice, using extra padding while on your back, and taking poses slower than you might regularly.
There are chemicals that you don't want to be around while pregnant, such as bleach or pesticides. These are also a danger to the baby after delivery if you're breastfeeding and when the baby begins to crawl around on the floor if cabinets are within easy reach. Make sure foods are properly prepared in the kitchen and that surfaces are kept clean to avoid bacteria building in the area.
From taking vitamins to stay healthy to eating the right foods, there are several things that you can do for a healthy pregnancy. Many of these activities should be carried over after the delivery so that you continue to live a healthy life. If you have questions, your doctor is the best source for answers.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.