Bearing a child is something that many find miraculous. All women have the parts necessary to create a baby, but there are still some who have difficulty in conceiving. That’s why once they do, they become too cautious, to the point that they almost don’t want to leave the house.
“Our findings highlight pregnancy as a sensitive period when positive lifestyle interventions could have significant and long-lasting beneficial effects on offspring metabolism and disease risk,” says Kevin J. Pearson, PhD, from the University of Kentucky.
Though it’s understandable, your life doesn’t need to stop during pregnancy. That is, considering there are no complications and your OB-GYN didn’t prescribe total bed rest. Check out the do’s and don’ts when you’re expecting below.
Do:
- Exercise
Some workouts won’t be too strenuous for pregnant ladies. Yoga and swimming are a couple of them. You may also join an indoor cycling or aerobics class if the doctor allows.
- Eat Wisely
For sure, your diet cannot just consist of burgers, fries, and other fatty foods, no matter how much you crave for them. Focus on the greens, stray away a bit from carbs, and be picky with the seafood you consume.
- Sleep
Your body experiences a series of changes and adjustments to make room for the child. It can indeed drain your energy levels; thus, have a nap or two during the day and sleep for at least eight hours every night.
“If you can, build in the ability to take a nap during the day, and try not to see so many people late into the evening,” says clinical psychologist April Fallon, PhD.
- Hydrate
Pregnancy makes you pee much more than when you didn’t have a growing baby in your womb, doesn’t it? Because of that, you should replenish all the fluids you expel by drinking plenty of water regularly.
- Medicate Smartly
Assuming you’re already on a lifetime medication before you got pregnant, inform both the OB-GYN and the disease specialist about your new condition. They can tell you which drugs to continue taking and what alternative medicine you can take while you’re in the family way.
- Take Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are also necessary because it’s difficult to assume how much of the essential nutrients you can get from the foods you eat. Nevertheless, only take the ones recommended by your doctor.
- Have Sex
When people tell you that you shouldn’t have sex because you’re pregnant, they’re wrong. The hormonal changes even increase your libido, frankly speaking. Just ask your physician about until when it’s safe for you to have sexual intercourse.
Don’t:
- Consume Raw Meat
In case you are a fan of sushi, beef tartare, or fresh oysters, I’m sorry to say that you need to forget them throughout your pregnancy. The people who prepare them may enforce food sanitation, yet you can’t risk acquiring viruses and bacteria due to them.
- Stay In Heated Baths
Although it feels soothing to rest in a jacuzzi, hot tub, or a sauna, you need to scratch that off your self-pampering list. The high temperature of the waterr can hurt your baby’s growth; that’s why it’s better to skip it too.
- Expose Yourself To Ill Folks
Being pregnant practically means you’re dividing your immune system between yourself and the child. It may be easy for you to catch a sickness, so you shouldn’t be around people with flu or other diseases.
- Overeat
Doctors suggest the number of pounds you can add to your pre-baby weight. Heed their advice so that you will likely have a smooth-sailing pregnancy.
- Chug Cups Of Coffee
Limit your caffeine intake to 12 ounces on a regular basis. You can’t go over that since too much coffee may cause miscarriage.
- Smoke/Drink
Of course, you should never smoke anything or drink alcoholic beverage when you’re carrying a child. Mothers who do that make their babies more susceptible to having fetal alcohol syndrome, which can decrease their ability to learn new information.
- Move Without Resting
“Dealing with the complete exhaustion of the first trimester was really the beginning of my realizing that my work–life balance was already starting to shift,” shares Houston clinical psychologist Kay Hurlock Brumbaugh, PsyD. “While maybe a couple of years ago I could be go-go-go — preparing presentations, working with clients, starting a new group therapy — I realized that might no longer be the case as this new chapter began in my life.”
Wherever you are, you can’t be doing the same thing for hours on end. Your body supports the weight of your child as well, so you may ache here and there if you’re always sitting, standing, or walking.