Tips For A Healthy Pregnancy
For many women, falling pregnant is one of the happiest times of their lives, especially if they have been wishing for that moment for a long time. This is a very exciting time for both the mother and her partner but with great excitement comes great responsibility to live healthy during the pregnancy by looking after your body, creating healthy eating habits and enjoying the next nine months ahead.
There are many ways in which you can ensure that you have a healthy lifestyle, and by improving your health, you will not only ensure that you have a healthy pregnancy, but you will have more vitality and energy every day. Your eating habits will play a major role in your health, as well as your level of physical activity. One important thing to remember is that stress can have a negative effect on your health, and your ability to get pregnant. Make sure that you live relatively stress free, and always look at your diet and your exercise routines, ad this can be a wonderful way to de-stress the body.
Healthy Diet Advice
Healthy eating habits are very important during pregnancy. Almost all pregnant women will need more protein, more of certain vitamins and minerals such as folic acid and iron, and more calories for energy and that’s why dieting during pregnancy it potentially dangerous to you and you baby. Many weight-loss plans will deprive you and your growing baby from the essential nutrients, vitamins en calories needed for growth during this time. Pre-natal vitamins will help ensure that you’ll get all the nutrients that you need. Make sure that the vitamin you choose contains folic acid. (You will need 400 mcg before falling pregnant en in the early stage of pregnancy and then at least 600 mcg.)
But this doesn’t mean to over indulge on your favourite food. If you start off at a healthy weight, no extra calories are needed in the first trimester, about 300 calories needed per day in the second trimester and about 450 calories needed per day in the third trimester. Foods to avoid are sushi, alcohol, soft cheeses, raw and undercooked meat or fish, refrigerated meat of any kind like ham, buffet or picnic food that’s been sitting out for two or more days and prepared food from the deli (especially if they contain eggs of cold meat). Healthy food includes fruit, raisins, yogurt (especially Greek yogurt), whole grain cereal or instant oatmeal, baby carrots and fat-free of low-fat cottage cheese.
Stay Active!
Do you love to exercise? Exercises are much needed during pregnancy because it promotes muscle tone. When you have maintained your strength and muscle tone all through your pregnancy, your body will have an easier time bouncing back after you give birth. Exercising will improve your self-image, reduce stress, help you to sleep better and boost you energy. Safe activities include swimming and walking. Contact or extreme sports, horse riding or scuba diving are not advised. Before embarking on an exercise regime, your caregiver must be consulted.
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