Pregnancy Can Be Easier With These Tips
Pregnancy can be a bitter-sweet experience, filled with mixed feelings of love, pain and excitement, we know. But amidst all the emotions, pregnancy gives an unexplainable glow, and there are lots of things you can do to achieve and maintain this glow. One of them is staying healthy; this is not only to your benefit, but also to the benefit of your child.
Here are some tips to make your pregnancy journey much easier:
Get early prenatal care
If you have just found out that you are pregnant, good prenatal care is essential for you and your baby. During your first visit, your doctor will be able to confirm your pregnancy and screen for certain medical conditions that could be harmful to you and your baby.
Maintain a healthy diet
While it’s okay to occasionally give in to your cravings during pregnancy, it’s important to keep in mind that you only need an additional 300 calories per day. Making sure that you are getting enough protein and calcium each day and avoiding deli meats can prevent you and your baby from harmful bacteria.
Eliminate alcohol and limit caffeine
We strongly urge you to avoid alcohol, limit your caffeine intake and steer clear of any nonprescription drugs throughout your pregnancy. Consumption of alcohol can be harmful to your baby’s brain or spinal development, too much caffeine has been linked to a higher instance of miscarriage, and nonprescription drugs can lead to birth defects or behavioral problems.
Take prenatal vitamins
Discuss with your doctor to know what prenatal vitamins are best for you and your baby, particularly how much folic acid and calcium you’ll need. Prenatal vitamins ensure your baby is getting the important vitamins and nutrients it needs; vitamins like folic acid, iron, calcium and DHA. These vitamins play an important role in bone, vision and brain development.
Exercise regularly
Exercising regularly increases your chances of having a vaginal delivery and helps you manage the common discomforts of pregnancy. Exercises can also aid in postpartum recovery. However, if you did not exercise regularly before becoming pregnant, check with your doctor before starting an exercise routine.
Listen to your body
The first and third trimesters come with fatigue, which is your body’s way of telling you to take it easy. So, listen to your body and sit back with a good book or take a nap when you are feeling tired.
Stay Clean
Staying clean is important and more important during pregnancy. Frequent hand washing can protect you from infections such as Group B streptococcus, Fifth disease, cytomegalovirus, and chickenpox, all of which can cause birth defects and other severe complications for your baby. Ethyl alcohol-based hand sanitizers are a great option for those times when you can't get to a sink.
Wear sunscreen
Your skin has a high tendency of getting sunburn and chloasma (dark, blotchy spots on the face) when you are pregnant, so it’s important to apply a sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 or higher and avoid tanning beds.
Stay hydrated
Drinking sufficient water during pregnancy prevents a number of problems such as hemorrhoids and other symptoms related to pregnancy. It also aids the delivery of nutrients to the fetus; it prevents UTI’s and constipation and prevents fatigue, headaches and overheating.
Know when to call the doctor
If you have any of the following symptoms, the Center for Disease Control recommends contacting your doctor:
- Vaginal bleeding or leaking of fluid
- Contractions that are 20 minutes apart or less
- Pain of any kind
- Strong cramps
- Heart palpitations
- Dizziness or fainting
- Decreased activity of the baby
- Shortness of breath
Get regular massages
When you feel cramps and discomfort in your bones and joints, massages can definitely make you feel better. Massages help soothe the aches and pains that come with pregnancy. They also ease your stress and help you sleep better.
At ORÍKÌ, we have massages specially made to cater to pregnant women; like the Prenatal Massage and the Mother-to-be Body Treatment with 100% Pure Plant Oil. Contact us to book a spa treatment and thank us later.