12 Tips on Having a Healthy Pregnancy

You can feel wonderful during your pregnancy if you take good care of yourself. If you’ve decided to have a baby, the most important thing you can do is to take good care of yourself so that you and your baby will be healthy. When you are pregnant, your health is directly related to the health of your baby, so it is important to do everything possible to be healthy during this time.

The Best Tips on Having a Healthy Pregnancy

Below are some important tips to ensure a healthy pregnancy:

  1. Start changing your food habits to include a healthy variety of foods.
  2. Get a checkup before pregnancy. Preconception care is medical care you get before you’re pregnant. The goal is to evaluate your health and identify health and lifestyle risks that may affect your pregnancy.
  3. Exercise – it’s important for your general health and also can help reduce stress. Take a pregnancy exercise class or walk at least fifteen to twenty minutes every day at a moderate pace. Walk in cool, shaded areas or indoors in order to prevent overheating.
  4. Lose the image of the perfect pregnancy. Don’t buy into myths that all pregnant women are happy, fulfilled, or have a certain glow. Be open to having good days and bad days, such as you or anyone else who is human would experience.
  5. Wear comfortable, non-restricting shoes and put your feet up several times a day to prevent fatigue and swelling of the feet, legs, and ankles.
  6. Take a prenatal vitamin. They can be prescribed by your practitioner or you can buy them over the counter. Ensure it contains 0.4 mg of folic acid.
  7. Learn about genetics. Your health care provider will take your health history and ask about the health of members of your family. Based on this information, your doctor or nurse may recommend that you see a genetic counselor to learn about your risk of having a baby with a birth defect.
  8. Avoid toxins in alcohol, smoke, and certain foods. Certain toxins that your body can handle are too much for the baby’s system including alcohol, cigarette smoke including second hand smoke, mercury and caffeine.
  9. Wear comfortable, non restricting shoes and put your feet up several times a day to prevent fatigue and swelling of the feet, legs, and ankles.
  10. If you suffer from a serious addiction, seek help. Attend meetings that are smoke-free. Never use a nicotine patch to quit smoking while you are pregnant. Never replace any drug with another substance unless it is approved by your doctor.
  11. Swimming is great in late pregnancy. It can help relieve a lot of aches and pains and makes you feel weightless.
  12. Pack your bags if you are going to a birth center or hospital. Don’t forget your insurance cards, pre-registration forms, camera, birth plan, etc.

While there are many other ways to be healthy during your pregnancy, these 12 tips will get you started on a healthy pregnancy and baby!

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