The Do’s and Don’ts of a Healthy Pregnancy

Millions of women become pregnant every year, however, not all pregnancies are the same. It’s not always as easy as it seems, and women experience various psychological and physical difficulties during those nine months.

Pregnant women can have good weeks and bad weeks. At the end of the day, all that matters is that you and the baby are healthy. Having a baby is a monumental chapter in a woman’s life, so it’s normal to feel anxious about it.

If this is your first pregnancy, or you fall in the high-risk category, here are the do’s and don’ts of a healthy pregnancy.

Do Take Multivitamins

A balanced diet is imperative to a healthy pregnancy. You need to make sure you’re receiving all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals you need to nourish both your body and your baby. Iron deficiency in pregnancy is a common issue that women experience, so make sure to take all the multi-vitamins and supplements needed.

It’s also worth mentioning that pregnant women are more prone to gum diseases and cavities. That’s why it’s important to include Vitamin C and calcium in your diet. You may also want to complement that with regular visits with this dentist in west point to make sure that your dental health is okay.

Do Work Out

Just because you’re pregnant, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t lead an active lifestyle. Working out can help avoid muscle pain, insomnia, and mood issues associated with pregnancy. If you find that you’ve been eating a bit more than usual, this is normal, but make sure to avoid excessive weight gain, as this could complicate your pregnancy.

Do Eat Seafood

An easy way to enrich your body with all the vitamins and minerals it needs during a pregnancy is by eating seafood. However, you should avoid any raw fish or fish that has high levels of mercury.

Don’t Eat Raw Meat

Foods like sushi, carpaccio, or even undercooked steak, should be avoided during pregnancy as this can cause toxoplasmosis. This is a bacterial infection found in raw meat that can harm both you and the baby. The most severe cases have caused birth defects and even miscarriages.

Don’t Eat for Two

Contrary to popular belief, being pregnant doesn’t give you a free pass to eat whatever you’d like. You should still be conscious of your diet and make sure you’re eating a healthy amount of food. During the first trimester, you only need to eat around 100 extra calories per day and by the third trimester you should only be eating an additional 500 calories a day.

Don’t Drink Alcohol

This one may seem like an obvious one, but it’s also one of the most serious don’ts in a pregnancy. Drinking alcohol whilst pregnant could cause FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome), which can lead to low birth weight, behavior problems, and learning disabilities. Even small quantities of alcohol can affect the health of your baby, so it’s best to cut it out altogether.

Once you get to hold your baby in your arms for the very first time, those nine months of pregnancy will feel like a breeze. Any fatigue, pain, or anxiety experienced will fade into the background and you will just be focused on the little human that has just entered your life.