If you are newly pregnant, or you plan to start trying in the near future, the first couple months of pregnancy are very important. By taking good care of your body from the beginning, you will also nurture the growing baby inside you.
Eat Healthy Foods
In addition to taking a good prenatal vitamin, you should eat a well-rounded diet.
You need to bump up your protein consumption during pregnancy. The baby will need a lot of protein to grow, so if you don’t eat enough protein-rich foods, the nutrients will be leached from your bones to supply the baby. It is recommended that pregnant women take in 1,000 mg of protein each day to satisfy the needs of both the baby and the mother. Healthy proteins include such foods as dairy yogurt, broccoli, kale and chickpeas. Red meats, poultry and fish are also excellent sources of protein for meat-eaters.
Low iron is one of the biggest concerns facing pregnant women. Beef, black beans, oats and chickpeas all contain large quantities of iron.
Make sure you include plenty of fiber in your diet as well. Constipation and hemorrhoids are common complaints, so eat lots of vegetables and fruits. Add a tablespoon or two of ground flaxseed to a fruit smoothie or sprinkle it onto your oatmeal in the morning for extra fiber.
Drink plenty of fluids each day. Water and fruit juices are the best choices. Limit your caffeine intake to one cup of coffee per day, if you need it.
Begin Ongoing Doctor Care Right Away
As soon as you suspect that you are pregnant, make an appointment with your doctor. Doctors can quickly detect any problems and prescribe the proper treatment. They can also help you avoid potential health problems down the road. Your physician will monitor your weight, blood pressure and other vitals at each visit.
Your doctor will recommend that you start taking prenatal vitamins right away. Don’t take vitamins and supplements that you took before you became pregnant, however. Many over-the-counter medicines are also not advised. Discuss with your doctor all the medications you are currently taking. He or she will caution you to stop taking any harmful meds right away.
Smoking and alcohol intake should stop completely during pregnancy. If you need help quitting, your doctor can give you recommendations.
Follow Healthy Lifestyle Choices
- Try to get 20 to 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise every day. Ride your stationary bike or take a brisk walk, if the weather allows.
- Avoid baths with very hot water, as well as hot tubs and saunas.
- Stay informed. Read as much as possible about proper prenatal care. Your doctor can also suggest educational childbirth classes to help you prepare. Talk with other moms who have been pregnant. Nothing beats firsthand experience.
- Avoid harmful chemicals, such as insecticides and solvents. This includes paint thinners and some cleaning supplies. Ask your doctor if you are unsure about a product.
- Don’t change the cat litter box. A parasite sometimes found in cat feces can cause an infection. Ask a family member or neighbor to help you out during your pregnancy. It’s also a good idea to wear gloves when working in the garden.
Seek Additional Help
Pregnancy care can be expensive. If you are struggling with the costs, free prenatal ultrasounds are available. An ultrasound is important, especially during the early stages. It can rule out a tubal pregnancy and determine how far along you are.
A registered nurse with technical training in sonography will perform the ultrasound. The appointment typically takes from 45 to 60 minutes.
Pregnancy can be such an exciting time in your life. Following some healthy habits can keep both you and your baby safe.
That cat litter thing isn’t completely true. Most cats don’t have it if they are indoor only as the way cats get is from dirt. You are actually more likely to get the parasite from gardening, so you actually might want to avoid gardening when pregnant or wear gloves and wash your hands afterward.
These are some great tips. Im pregnant with our second child and I follow most of these.
Great tips! It’s so important to eat healthy while you are pregnant.
Awesome tips. I continued my workouts for as long as I could while pregnant. It was helpful.
I wish I would’ve been more active during my pregnancies and worked out. I think it would’ve helped me with the recovery after giving birth.
Great tips for early pregnancy. I remember mine very well, all the doctor’s visits, I became much more careful with what I ate. Unfortunately, I had to change my cats’ litter.
Making sure to have the doctors care the entire pregnancy was so important for my three. Especially after being diagnosed with Hypothyroidism the initial visit of my pregnancy with my son.
Thank you for sharing these tips. I did not know that flaxseeds can help but I’d love to include it in my fruit smoothie.
I agree with you regarding hot tubs. This must be avoided when pregnant.
Getting prenatal care early and often can help to have a healthy pregnancy and the healthiest baby.
These are great tips. I’ll definitely be sharing with my expecting friends. Thanks for sharing.
Great tips and very helpful for a newly pregnant first time Mom!
These are great prenatal tips, thank you so much for sharing! I remember my three pregnancies well, each one different but prenatal care is so important. I always have iron issues so I try to cook in my iron skillet as much as possible as well.