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November 7th, 2022
Pregnancy is one of the most important and delicate phases of a woman’s life. The body of a pregnant woman undergoes a lot of changes ranging from an increase in blood volume, expansion of the uterus, and production of breast milk. It also involves her making sacrifices and adjusting to the growth of another life within her.
Since her body is subject to a lot of physical and psychological changes during pregnancy, being prepared to handle those changes can make the phase of pregnancy more bearable. Being pregnant comes with certain non-negotiables. There are limits to what you can and should do.
Hence, being aware of those limits and taking the proper precautions and steps is something that you should take seriously as a pregnant woman.
Here are things you should do and take note of during pregnancy.
1. Eat healthily
As a prospective mother, whatever you eat now caters to the bodily needs of you and your child. Hence paying attention to what you eat is very important.
Your diet should provide you with enough vitamins and minerals for the development of your child. Stick more to fruits and vegetables. Avoid junk food from restaurants. Stick to homemade meals that contain all six classes of food. Avoid fatty foods and ensure that you do not skip meals.
Avoid certain foods like raw meat, raw eggs, liver, and unpasteurized milk/animal products as they can induce food poisoning or infections.
2. Avoid alcohol intake and smoking
Apart from the fact that taking alcohol during pregnancy can cause abnormalities for your baby, it can also result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), behavioral challenges, and learning disabilities. The same applies to smoking. Smoking can cause premature delivery, and miscarriages and also increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) for your child. For the safety of your child, avoid smoking and alcohol intake while pregnant.
3. Study your baby’s movements
One of the many signs that your baby is healthy is the consistency of movements you experience in your womb as a pregnant woman. Most women begin to experience this during the first 18-24 weeks of pregnancy. The movements in the early stage range from swirling/fluttering to jerky movements and kicks as the pregnancy advances.
Make it a priority to study your baby’s movements as it can be a way of knowing how healthy your baby is. If you notice changes in the movements or that the movements have slowed down or stopped completely, reach out to a health expert.
4. Sleep more on your side in the third trimester of your pregnancy
An advice that you should heed as a pregnant woman is sleeping on your side during your pregnancy. It is considered a safer sleeping position for your baby and should be used for naps and night sleep.
5. Get vaccinated
Getting vaccinated against diseases like Whopping cough, Flu, and Covid-19 during pregnancy saves your child from the risks of getting infected. The ideal time to get vaccinated as a pregnant woman is between week 16 to week 32 of pregnancy.
Pregnant people are advised to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect their babies until they are old enough to get their first set of vaccinations.
6. Take note of danger signs
Since pregnancy is a delicate phase of a woman’s life, it is smart to keep tabs and be aware of potential red flags. Certain occurrences during pregnancy are symptoms of an emergency or medical condition that could place the life of the mother and unborn child in danger.
Signs like:
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should contact a health center or see a doctor.
7. Keep up with prenatal checkups
An important part of handling pregnancy is keeping up with visits to the primary care clinic or meetings with a doctor. Doing this helps you gain access to vital medical advice, keep up with the health status of your baby and make the right preparation for labor.
If you are already pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, you can learn new childcare tips from our experts and get the support you need for the most important phase of your life as a mother. You can access proper medical services for pregnancy or speak to a medical expert about your struggles and challenges by clicking here.
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