Who’d have thought 2020 would start off like this? The coronavirus has come as something of a shock to everyone, with many people now staying at home to help prevent the virus from spreading.

If you’re going through pregnancy, it’s likely to be a worrying time for you. But with so much out of our hands right now, putting your health first is the most important thing.

Even though you’re stuck at home, there’s still a lot you can do to enjoy a healthy pregnancy. Here are some useful tips for staying healthy in pregnancy during lockdown.

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Seek advice from your doctor

No matter how far into your pregnancy you are, you’ll likely have a lot of questions right now. In the first instance, always seek advice from your doctor. Most practices are taking precautions to take care of pregnant women, but there might be some changes to the usual care you’d expect. Follow the advice given by official sources and be sure to keep up your appointments. Your doctor will let you know how to attend safely, making sure you get the best possible care at this time.

Eat healthily

While being bored at home can have you reaching for the snacks, it’s still important to follow a healthy diet. A balanced diet in pregnancy can help you and your baby build better immunity, as well as help you get the energy and nutrition you both need. Focus on eating fruit and vegetables, and try not to overindulge in sweet or salty foods just because you’re expecting.

Get plenty of sleep

Sleep is important for your general health, but even more so during pregnancy. There are many barriers to sleep faced by moms-to-be, including restless leg syndrome during pregnancy. Making sure your bed is comfortable and that you go to bed at a reasonable hour can help improve the quality of your sleep. Try to stay active and mobile during the day so that your body is ready for sleep at night.

 

Now could also be a great time to invest in a pregnancy pillow so that you can enjoy a comfier sleep.

Exercise safely and stay active

Staying at home means not being able to do many of the things you normally would to stay active during pregnancy, such as going for a walk or going to a fitness class. But not being able to do these things doesn’t mean you can’t stay active. Do gentle workouts that are designed for pregnant women, and give some at-home pregnancy yoga a try. There are some excellent pregnancy workouts you can do at home to help you work out safely indoors.

Stay positive

With so much uncertainty at the moment, it’s easy (and understandable) to feel negative at this time. After all, this is now how you imagined you’d be bringing your child into the world! But keeping your mental health in check is important, so you need to find ways to stay positive and upbeat despite everything that’s going on. Why not try limiting your screen time? Spending too much time online and absorbing all of the news around coronavirus could increase your stress, which isn’t good for you or your baby. Instead, fill your time with some projects around the home and other things you wouldn’t usually have time for such as reading or taking up knitting!

Keep in touch with friends and family

Isolation can be a lonely period for everyone, even if there are others in your home! However, there are still plenty of ways for you to keep in touch with friends and family. Try video chatting, sending mail and having phone calls with the ones you love. By doing some video calls you could still give the baby the opportunity to hear voices and it will be a great mood-booster for you too.

Plan for the future

While your current plans might not be going ahead, you can still plan for the future. Why not create a wish box for your baby of all of the outings and places you want to visit when you can? You’ll be able to have fun dreaming up different plans that will keep you busy once the baby arrives, and give yourself something to look forward to too.

 

Now is also a great time to save some money, seeing as you won’t be leaving the house for a while! Put those savings in a safe place ready for when the baby comes so that you can spoil them and yourself!

Keep your home clean

One of the best ways to stop the spread of infections is by keeping your home clean. While you might not be encountering anyone else right now, it’ll be good practice for when the baby comes. Creating a cleaning schedule can help you stay on top of things, making it easier for you to clean each room in turn and avoid those long cleans on weekends. Use products that are safe for you to use during your pregnancy and pay particular attention to high traffic areas, and your kitchen!

Enjoy the rest

Most pregnant women have to juggle a lot alongside pregnancy, including work. Being at home gives you the perfect opportunity to rest and put your feet up – things you won’t be able to do once the baby arrives. Make sure you enjoy the slower pace of life and take the opportunity to pamper yourself too. A bit of me-time is hard to come by, so make the most of it while you can to help you have a calm and happy pregnancy.

 

While your pregnancy may be different from what you were expecting, you can still enjoy it at home. Make sure you follow advice to stay healthy and get plenty of rest while you can. Once the baby arrives, you’ll be able to enjoy creating some special memories with your little one and look forward to the exciting times ahead for your family.