Once the testing stick tells you that you are positive, your world is likely to go upside down. Many questions will be popping into your mind - Should I exercise? What food should be on my plate? How frequently should I use technological gadgets? When should I get up in the morning? The list is non-exhaustive.
We understand that as a newly pregnant mother, you wish to give your baby what is the best possible care. So, here we are to help you to connect with the best sexologist near me and know few things you can do during the next nine months to ensure that your being healthy results in you being the mother to a healthy child.
Nutrition
Eating a nutritious diet can be linked to good brain development, reduced congenital disabilities, and healthy birth weight. It can also bring down the chances of developing anaemia by the mother, and other uncomfortable side effects of pregnancy like nausea and morning sickness.
A holistic pregnancy diet includes the following:
- Folic acid
- Enough fat
- Fruits and vegetables
- Vitamin C
- Whole grains
- Iron-rich foods
- Protein
- Calcium
- Any other nutrients that your doctor recommends based on your own unique bodily needs
Prenatal Vitamins
While most of your vitamins might come from having a well-balanced diet, prenatal vitamins can come in to fill any gaps. Planning a wholesome meal while being pregnant can be an everyday challenge. For instance, Folic acid is a form of Vitamin B, which is extremely important for pregnant women as it lowers the risk of having a child with a neural tube defect. These, when taken several weeks before one’s pregnancy and 12 weeks into the pregnancy, can have tremendous benefits for the child.
Exercise
When pregnant, exercising can help you:
- Relieve constipation
- Strengthen muscles
- Bring down the backaches
- Enhance your sleep
- De-stress
Moderate exercise is encouraged in pregnant women as it has been proven to be healthy for both the mother and the child. However, if you are someone who did not exercise before these nine months, please consult with a doctor to find out if exercising now will have any risks for you, and if not, then how to go about the whole thing.
There are many exercise classes designed especially for pregnant women; to help them promote better respiration, circulation, alignment, and posture. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, these might be happening online now. But the most significant plus point of this whole endeavour remains the same - meeting other pregnant women!
Changing Lifestyle-Related Habits
It’s a must to stop any smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug abuse. These can lead to severe complications for both you and the baby. For instance, drinking throughout the nine months can lead to your baby developing fetal alcohol syndrome, in which the baby, when born, experiences withdrawal symptoms similar to that of an adult trying to quit alcohol. These symptoms put too much undue pressure on the baby’s new system.
Conclusion
Yes, the world of pregnancy can be very confusing and overwhelming. And with every second person claiming to be an expert in the field, the process gets even more challenging. We recommend you to stick to a few core things throughout for some amount of certainty. Be it a doctor or a book or an exercise routine. Change them only when needed.