Nanny to Mommy

If you are expecting a baby or planning to have a baby in the near future, then being prepared for what pregnancy will be like, and being prepared to have a healthy and happy pregnancy can go a long way too. After all, you are growing a human and it can take its toll on you. So here are a few things to think about and to plan for. 

As soon as you know that you are pregnant, you need to make sure that you get to see your doctor, as you will need to be registered with antenatal care. Then you will be looked after, and have your appointments for scans, and so on. Organizing your care as early on as possible means that you’ll be able to get some good advice for a healthy pregnancy right from the start.

If you haven’t been very active before now, then pregnancy isn’t the time to start a new fitness regime. However, you should still focus to be as active as you have been, with walking and moving as much as you can. If you’ve had a fitness routine, then this can carry on in pregnancy, it will just need to be adjusted over time. So speak to a trainer about your options. Starting something new like pregnancy yoga can be a good idea, to help calm you, build up strength, and prepare you for the delivery. You need to be active and healthy, to grow a baby well.

Pregnant women do go through a few changes, and one of them is to do with their pelvic floor. The muscles will start to weaken, because there is more pressure on them when you’re pregnant. Plus, pelvic floor can cause your muscles to become lax as well. So starting early with your pelvic floor muscles will be a big benefit in the long run, especially if you want to run after your kids and jump on a trampoline with them, and not have fears of wetting yourself!

What you eat in pregnancy is really important, because your body will be using everything that you put in, in order to grow your baby. To start with, foods high in folate are a must, such as spinach and eggs. Then make sure you have a varied diet, with plenty of fiber and protein, as well as essential vitamins and minerals. Foods that have vitamin D in are another great option, so have oily fish in your diet a couple of times per week (or take a supplement if you are vegetarian).

If you consume a lot of caffeine, through tea, coffee, coke, energy drinks, and even chocolate, then you put yourself at higher risk of miscarriage. There is also research to suggest that too much caffeine can lead to your baby having a low birth weight. Decaffeinated teas and decaf coffee, fruit teas and juice, are all alternatives that are safe to have.