It’s every mom-to-be’s top wish that her baby be as healthy as possible when they’re born, and mom’s habits and self-care during pregnancy have everything to do with how the baby fares in utero and after birth.
If you’re pregnant, you probably get lots of advice — solicited and unsolicited — about the best health habits to adopt during pregnancy. We all know that things like drinking alcohol and smoking are definitely out, but what are other things you should be concerned about?
Dr. Kevin Hooker routinely speaks to his pregnant patients and those considering getting pregnant about what they can do to ensure they have a healthy baby. This is truly an example of how effective partnering with us at Lake Havasu OB/GYN Care prepares you for a great birth experience.
Health tips for a great pregnancy
The Lake Havasu OB/GYN Care team has designed some recommendations for being your healthiest self while you’re pregnant, and these ideas are pretty great to keep up even after you have your baby.
- Exercise throughout your pregnancy. Amazingly, staying active during your pregnancy makes for healthier moms and babies. Moms who exercise routinely during pregnancy are more likely to have babies who, as children, are less likely to be obese or develop chronic conditions like diabetes. The same holds true for the moms.
- Ingest the right things. A varied diet that’s heavy on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein is the way to go, and since it’s hard to get exactly the right amount of nutrients each day, make sure you do by taking a prenatal vitamin daily, which also contains folic acid — essential for your baby’s development.
- Match your exercise to your trimester. During your first trimester, feel free to run, bike, swim, practice yoga, and do weight training. In your second trimester, shift a bit and refrain from biking and weight training, and in your third trimester, focus on low impact exercise like swimming and walking.
- Staying well-hydrated is key. Not only should you up your water intake while pregnant to 8-10 glasses per day, remember that certain fruits like watermelon are mostly water — this counts. Remaining hydrated discourages discomforts like hemorrhoids, fatigue, and headaches.
- Don’t skip your flu shot. There’s never been a more important time to make sure you’re well protected against the flu, which can create serious complications for pregnant women and their developing babies. It’s safe and very easy to get.
- Be easy on yourself and get high quality rest. We know you’re used to going a mile a minute and accomplishing your to-do list with ease, but pregnancy is a time to get sufficient amounts of high-quality rest. Savor it now, as it’s rare once the baby’s born.
- Address your stress. Anxiety about many things comes up during pregnancy, from how your birth will go to whether you’re making the right choices about countless matters.
It makes sense, then, to note that each one of the tips above will help reduce your stress, as will getting involved in a mindfulness practice like meditation and talking with a therapist or a dear and trusted friend or family member.