5 Effective Ways to Ensure and Maintain a Healthy Pregnancy

=Now that you have confirmed you are pregnant, it becomes more imperative than ever to consider taking care of yourself emotionally and physically.

Of course, a lot of things will be beyond your control when you are pregnant, including some pregnancy complications, which might become apparent.

But following and sticking to the following ways, you won’t just have a healthy baby; you will also increase the odds of having a smooth pregnancy journey:

1.     Mind Your Diet

Eating nutritious food while you are pregnant is connected to healthy birth weight and good brain development and may minimize the risks of different birth defects.

Well-balanced diets can also decrease the risks of anemia, not to mention unpleasant pregnant symptoms, like morning sickness and fatigue. Some of the food you can include in your diet are:

• Whole grains
• Milk
• Lean meat
• Beans
• Vegetables and fruits

2.     Practice Healthy Sex

Don’t’ worry; your uterus and amniotic fluid will protect your baby. Sexual activities can’t harm the baby provided there are no complications, like placenta issues or preterm labor.

But let’s face it. Your pregnancy won’t protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) which might result in serious issues for both you and the baby.

If you are sexually active, you might want to consider STD consultation and condoms so as to minimize the risks of getting infected.

3.     Start Pelvic Floor Workouts

Your pelvic floor refers to a wide sling of muscles, which is at the base of the pelvis. These muscles usually support your back passage, vagina, and bladder.

They can get weaker than normal during pregnancy due to increased pressure. Pregnancy hormones might make the pelvic floor muscles to slacken slightly and soften.

Weaker pelvic floor muscles might increase the risks of getting stress incontinence. This explains why you leak wee each time you exercise, laugh, or sneeze.

You can make your muscles strong by doing Kegels or pelvic floor workouts regularly throughout the pregnancy. You may maximize the benefits when you build up to around ten long squeezes of eight seconds, followed by eight short squeezes two times a day.

4.     Limit Caffeine and Avoid Alcohol Intake

It is imperative to take of yourself throughout the pregnancy journey. This includes avoiding alcohol, steering clear of non-prescription drugs, and limiting your caffeine intake.

Indulging in alcohol may affect the baby’s spinal or brain development, while too much caffeine intake is linked to higher chances of miscarriage.

5.     Prepare a Good Birth Plan

Whether you want that epidural or looking to have a doula, consider writing down all your wishes and give everyone involved with your delivery a copy of it.

According to experts at American Pregnancy Association, your birth plan might have a lot of wishes but are not limited to:

• What to do in the case of complications
• Procedures you should avoid
• Special clothing you need

Prenatal Healthcare is Key to a Healthy Pregnancy!

Getting prenatal care regularly is the key to a healthy pregnancy and keeping your baby safe throughout the journey. Whether you are six or thirty weeks pregnant, maintain a healthy pregnancy with the help of the above ways.