The Keys To A Healthy Pregnancy

So now the waiting and longing is over and you’re finally pregnant! Now the attention turns to the next nine months and making sure that you are as healthy as possible throughout. Obviously if you are healthy then it is a better experience for you but it also goes a long way to minimizing the chances of your baby being of a low birth weight or having a birth defect. There are things you can do to ensure that you have a healthy pregnancy and it starts from the moment you find out you’re pregnant!

Of course, there are many experts out there that will dazzle you with science and do their best to confuse you so the simple tips outlined below will go a long way to giving you a few ideas about what you can do towards a healthy pregnancy throughout:

Top Tips For A Healthy Pregnancy

1. Don’t Eat For Two – Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to eat for two to have a healthy pregnancy. Well, you do but not in terms of the quantity of food. For the first six months of any pregnancy you should maintain your diet as it is, unless you didn’t eat healthily before of course! Eat the same amount of calories as before, but increase it by 200 calories a day in the final trimester. This will give you more energy and ensure baby gets the nutrients he or she needs. Avoid junk food though because it’s a sure fire way to put on weight and the calories are no use to your or the baby because they’re empty.

2. Eat Little And Often – Instead of eating three big meals a day, eat several smaller meals and only when you’re hungry. Eating big meals will make morning sickness worse in early pregnancy and increase heartburn later on. If you’re uncomfortable then so is baby so do what’s best by you both.

3. Make Sure You Get Enough Vitamins And Minerals – There are antenatal supplements that you can get from any good health store. They contain everything you need to maximise your healthy pregnancy. Folic acid and the B vitamins are the most important nutrients and you can also get these from green leafy vegetables and fruit so eat healthily and you’ll both feel better for it!

4. Avoid Stress – Avoid stress like the plague because it will distress you both. A healthy pregnancy is a relaxed one so bear that in mind!

5. Don’t Eat Certain Foods – There are certain foods that could potentially make you ill and damage the baby so leave them out of your diet altogether where possible. Examples of these foods are peanuts, liver, undercooked meat, raw seafood, blue veined cheeses, alcohol, eggs (unless hardboiled) and pate.

6. Avoid Smoking – Nothing more needs to be said here!

7. Exercise – Make sure that you get 30 minutes of exercise three times a week. If you’re struggling to fit that in then try going for a walk every day. This will get your blood pumping and this, in turn, ensures that your body gets enough oxygen and nutrients to the baby.

8. Limit Your Caffeine Intake – Research has shown that excess caffeine can cause a low birth weight and miscarriages so stick to no more than 3 cups of coffee or 6 cups of tea a day. If you are addicted then try decaf!