When you find out you are pregnant for the first time, this can be a bit of a daunting prospect. With so many changes going to happen with your body, hormones and also emotions, it is hard to know what to expect. Every pregnancy is different, and a woman can have multiple children with each pregnancy being different in the way the she feels and the symptoms that she gets. In one pregnancy, she may get wild cravings, and in another she may get none. She may put on a lot of weight with one child and not as much with her next. You can speak to a doctor, speak to friends or family and even search online for an idea of what you are going to go through, but it is different for each person. The most important thing is to make sure that you look after yourself during your pregnancy.
Eating Correctly
You really do not need to double your intake of food when you are pregnant, the myth that you are eating for two is not correct at all. As long as you eat a balanced and healthy diet, your body is quite capable of getting all of the nutritional requirements out of your diet. Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is essential in maintaining your health. Make sure that you do not eat too many fatty and sugary foods and also too much salt is bad as well. Try and stay away from additives and preservatives and also processed foods. Too many of these types of food are bad for you whether you are pregnant or not. You will also need to stop alcohol and caffeine as well during your pregnancy as these can affect your unborn child.
Staying Active
You will also need to stay active during your pregnancy to make sure that you get enough exercise to keep you fit and strong. Ideally you will need to do some sustained exercise for at least half an hour each day where you increase your heart rate. This will give you the exercise that your body requires to stay healthy. Of course, you will need to consult your doctor throughout your pregnancy especially so if you are starting an exercise regime whilst you are pregnant. There are plenty of things that you can do which are good for you though and you can even do them in the comfort of your own home.
- Walking/Running
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Aerobics
- Yoga
All of these are good forms of exercise, and probably the best one, especially in the later stages of your pregnancy, is swimming. This is good as it is low impact on your joints as the water helps to support your increased body weight and gives exercise to all of the muscles in your body. Exercise is a very personal thing though so you may be more comfortable to do aerobics or yoga from the comfort of your own home. There are plenty of books, and DVD's that you can get for all levels of fitness. You can even just go out and have a walk around your local neighborhood if that is more to your liking.
Staying Comfortable
It is also important that you try and remain as comfortable as possible when you are pregnant, and this can mean making sure you wear the correct clothing. You are sure to be able to find a maternity clothing sale pretty much all year round, and you will need to make sure that you get clothes which make you feel comfortable. Wearing clothes which are suitable for the season you are in is important, light colours and 100% cotton dresses are good for the warmer times of the year. During the cooler times or during winter, make sure that you have warmer clothes to keep you comfortable. You will need to make sure you get a well fitted bra which is going to support your breasts properly as they increase in size. One of the most important things you can do is to get good quality and comfortable footwear which give your feet the correct amount of support. With your increased weight, your feet are going to notice the difference. If you listen to the experts and also your own body, you will be able to stay fit and healthy throughout your pregnancy which is going to help make sure that your baby is also fit and healthy when they make their appearance in the world.
Deane Schwarz has written this article. When she was pregnant she loved shopping for cheap maternity clothing from Bump Baby and Beyond. Deane is a keen fitness enthusiast and mother of two. She also likes to share her comments and opinions in the articles that she writes.
You have share such a informative tips. During pregnancy, your baby takes nutrients directly from your body. These can be your body vulnerable to problems if you do not eat the right foods. The last thing you need during pregnancy is to be sick. The pregnancy was difficult for you and your baby. Therefore, proper nutrition for pregnant women is very important.