Healthy eating is often the hallmark of a healthy pregnancy, as it will affect not only the mother’s health but will ensure the long term health of the baby. This also means that there is plenty of fun to be had in planning and preparing for the coming event. Here are the seven easy steps to its healthy start!
1. Lifestyle changes – Smoking, drinking and doing recreational drugs are all on the agenda. However, these are not the only culprits to consider. There are certain behaviors which are a natural and upwards slide in their consumption and are dangerous to your unborn child. Excessive caffeine consumption, smoking, alcohol and drug use are all negative and have harmful effects on a programme of healthy eating during the pregnancy. Therefore, it is nice to cut these down to a bare minimum. Just as a health warning should always be ringing in the air, avoiding the use of either alcohol or drugs is essential to your unborn child’s health.
2. Postponing your pregnancy plans – Once you have made the decision to get pregnant, it will probably be a while before your next chance to get pregnant. However, you may still wish to make changes to your lifestyle and plan ahead. Why not talk to your partner and get his input, after all you are both on the same journey of parenthood? Discussing your plans may help with your own emotional stability as well as your more physical changes. This also helps to prevent the potential disappointment for both of you!
3. Eating better – After a few months of delve into the many facts about pregnancy and its nutrition, you may likely be eager to know how you will get all of your essential nutrients in. Well we are providing some tips which are easy to make. Simply substitute all grains for rice or wheat and cut back on potatoes to a minimum! Also, be aware that a well-nourished body will have more energy at its task. This will also help you in conception.
4. Changing Your Diet – Once you have a child in your life, it is more important to eat right and drink plenty of water. Water will buffer you against morning sickness symptoms, helping you get through those first few weeks and months. Also, drinking water will help flush out toxins and flush out a lot of the excess Iron and Calcium in your body to help your baby grow.
5. What to include and what to avoid – While avoiding highly unnatural substances such as alcohol, caffeine and too much junk food is necessarily a must, you will want to take into account what to eat and when to eat while pregnant. Beyond the obvious of healthy exercise and nutritious food, you will also want to make sure that you increase your calcium and protein intake. Add a prenatal vitamin with lots of calcium and protein and your diet is complete!
6. Your emotions during pregnancy – So, now that you are pregnant it is important for you and also for the baby that you avoid emotions that might make you discouraged. Make sure that you remain able to focus on the big mile stones that are health and healthful and do not let the worries about the pregnancy bog you down. You will have all the support you need to get through the pregnancy and the birth of your child in a healthy and natural way.
And remember – while you may have a baby bump, pregnancy is not just about the birth of these babies. Pregnancy is and enjoyable time for every woman, and might be the most important time of your life. Make the most of the privilege and continue to strive to stay healthy!
