A woman’s pregnancy brings happiness to the family, expecting the coming of a new family member. It is also a time of anxiety regarding the health of the expecting mother and the growing baby. There are many lifestyle and diet changes that need to be made so that one can have a healthy pregnancy. Let us have a look at some of those.
The Changes That Need To Be Introduced For Healthy Pregnancy
A few changes need to be introduced to improve the health of the expecting mother and the child. Some of the changes seem strange and difficult to implement. Still, they must be followed so that happiness during pregnancy lingers even after delivering a healthy baby.
Balanced Diet:
Women often feel increased appetite during a healthy pregnancy, but it is not that they must eat whenever they are hungry. During pregnancy, it is wise to maintain a balanced diet. The food taken must contain starch-based food, Which must eat fruits and vegetables, food rich in fiber must be introduced into the diet, and protein and dairy food must also be a part of the diet. Who must avoid fat as far as possible? Mothers must have foods having plenty of iron, calcium, and folic acid and avoid food with a lot of vitamin A should follow increased levels of listeria, certain fishes like shark, marlin and swordfish, and caffeine.
Medication:
Who must limit the intake of medicines to expect those prescribed by doctors? Reading a label and finding it is natural and herbal should lead you to believe it is safe for the mother and the child. Paracetamol, certain painkillers, excessive laxatives, antihistamines, and decongestants must be avoided during healthy pregnancy unless prescribed by doctors. Who must disclose the medicines you take to the doctor so they can judge and tell whether they are safe during pregnancy?
Vitamins and supplements:
Who must take folic acid during pregnancy? You can either have folic acid tablets or eat spinach, sprouts, broccoli, green beans, and potatoes to have such a supply. Vitamin D must also be included in the foods that you have. One must also take iodine as this helps in the healthy development of the growing baby’s brain. To have such an iodine intake, you can have milk, yoghurt, eggs, and fish, but avoid salt, which also has iodine but not well during a healthy pregnancy.
Smoking:
Expecting mothers may have the habit of smoking. One must avoid smoking as it harms the growing baby and has long-term effects. If one continues smoking, who can expect to encounter unwanted situations like miscarriage, slow growth of infants, premature labour, bleeding in the later stages of pregnancy, and even stillbirth?
The child might have a chest infection, asthma, glue ear, cot death, not being good at studies, or have behavioural problems if their mother smoked when pregnant.
Alcohol:
It is also advised that expecting mothers should avoid drinking. This is harmful to the baby. The alcohol passes through the placenta and reaches the growing baby. Babies do not have the metabolism to process alcohol, so it remains in their bodies longer, causing severe health problems.
Exercise:
There are specific exercises which pregnant women must introduce into their daily routines. There may be certain modifications to the form of exercise, so it is best to consult a doctor before starting a practice.
After 16 weeks of pregnancy, you must not exercise while lying on your back. While selecting exercises, consider whether there needs to be a proper balance when performing the exercise. You must avoid such activity as you may fall, and that will not be good for you and your baby.
Sex:
Mostly it is seen that sex is safe for almost all couples where the wife is pregnant. As pregnancy matures, it may be seen having sex may lead to contractions called Braxton-Hicks contractions. These conditions may be uncomfortable for you. Doctors may tell one to avoid having sex during a healthy pregnancy if one has heavy bleeding or a water leak.
Working:
If one feels that the nature of the work they have to do is dangerous during pregnancy, then it is wise to discuss that before undertaking that job. There are specific jobs that you must avoid during a healthy pregnancy. If the job involves handling raw meat, then you must avoid such a job. You may be infected by listeria and toxoplasma, which harm the growing baby. If your job is such that you have to handle certain animals like sheep, lambs, or cats, then you must avoid those.
Recreational Drugs:
Having recreational drugs might be dangerous for one during a healthy pregnancy. Having heroin may lead to miscarriage, low birth weight, premature labor, stillbirth, and withdrawal symptoms in the baby after birth. If one has cocaine can lead to life-threatening bleeding, miscarriage, low birth weight, premature labor, stillbirth, and having an abnormal baby. One does not want these, and having such drugs must be avoided.
If it is seen that one has formed a habit of having such drugs, then one must have medical help to stop those during pregnancy.
Travelling:
During a healthy pregnancy, you must be cautious about your travelling. Never try to drive a car when you are pregnant. While in a car, tie your seat belt properly and seat straight. The seat belt must be so tired that it goes below and above the bump, not across it. Do not travel to a remote place. Being in such a remote place would make it difficult to have such support. This is because, during pregnancy, you may suddenly require medical help.
These are some of the changes in diet and lifestyle that one must make while pregnant to have a healthy baby and remain fit and refined during a healthy pregnancy. It is best to consult a doctor because they can advise specific other diet and lifestyle changes that need improvement.
