10 Tips To Ace Your Pregnancy Like A Pro

Source: Mayo Clinic Health System

The best time to start taking prenatal vitamins is while you are still trying to get pregnant. During the first month of pregnancy, your baby's brain and spinal cord begin to grow, so it's critical that you consume crucial nutrients like folic acid, calcium, and iron.

It is possible to buy prenatal vitamins over the counter or have your doctor prescribe them. In the event that they cause you to feel dizzy, consider taking them in the evening or with a small meal. Afterward, sucking on hard candies or chewing gum may also be beneficial.

Take a Workout

Source: BabyCenter

It is crucial to stay active for your overall health, as it can reduce stress, control your weight, enhance circulation, raise your mood, and help you sleep better. Participate in a pregnancy fitness class or walk for at least 15-20 minutes each day at a slow pace in cool, shady surroundings or indoors.

Pregnant women can benefit greatly from Pilates, yoga, swimming, and walking, but before beginning any exercise regimen, be sure to consult your doctor. Most days of the week, try to get 30 minutes of exercise in. Listen to your body and don't overdo it, though.

Become More Informed

Source: Today's Parent

The more you learn about labor, the more confident you'll be when it's your turn to deliver the baby. Additionally, you will get the opportunity to ask specific questions and express any concerns you may have regarding childbirth and newborn care. You'll also get to know the staff and the facility better.

It's also a good idea to review the medical history of your immediate family members. Inform your doctor of any complications from previous pregnancies and of any history of birth abnormalities in your family.

Practice Kegels

Source: Pampers

Your bladder, bowels, and uterus all depend on strong pelvic floor muscles, which can be strengthened by kegel exercises. In order to ease your delivery and prevent future incontinence issues, it is important to perform this easy exercise correctly from the start. The best part is that no one can tell you're doing Kegels, so you can practice them anywhere: in the vehicle, at work, in line at the grocery store, or even in your pajamas. To get it right, here's how:

Squeeze your genitals like you're trying to stop the flow of pee when you go to the bathroom.  Three seconds of holding then three seconds of relaxing.  Do this ten times.

Switch Up Your Tasks

Source: Healthline

When you're pregnant, even simple duties like scrubbing the bathroom or picking up after your dogs might be dangerous. Toxic chemicals, heavy lifting, and bacteria can all harm you and your unborn child. The following are a few things that you can cross off your to-do list:

• Exhausting physical exertion
• Using a step stool or a ladder to climb
• Replacing the cat's litter box (to avoid toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by a parasite the cats can carry)
• Using harsh chemicals
• Standing for long periods of time, especially near a hot stove.

Buy New Shoes

Source: Wallpaper Flare

Finally, a good reason to buy shoes! Your feet may begin to swell as your baby bump grows, or at the very least, you may begin to feel that way. As a result, your center of gravity is thrown off by weight growth, resulting in more pressure on your toes. Over-pronation, or flattening out of the feet, is a painful condition that can develop as a result of this additional pressure. Your feet and ankles may swell because you're retaining fluids.

Because of this, it's critical to wear shoes that are both comfy and nonrestrictive while you're expecting. It's common for new mothers to need a larger shoe size after giving birth, therefore it's okay to go up a size throughout your pregnancy. To avoid fatigue and swelling in the feet, legs, and ankles, elevate your feet numerous times during the day.

Eat Foods Rich in Folate to Maintain a Healthy Weight

Source: Healthshots

Consume plenty of folate-rich foods such as fortified cereals, asparagus, lentils, wheat germ, and oranges, as well as eight to ten glasses of water each day. Folic acid is critical for the healthy development of the baby's neural tube (which protects the spinal cord) and the production of new red blood cells.

Eat Fish

Source: EcoWatch

Fish is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain development, according to researchers. There's just one problem: Mercury, which can be harmful to both children and adults, is found in some fish.

Pregnant women should eat no more than 12 ounces of fish per week in order to be safe, according to the FDA. Don't go overboard on fatty fish like tuna steaks or swordfish. Don't eat mercury-rich swordfish, shark, king mackerel, or tilefish.

Plan Ahead While Traveling

Source: Little Guest

Book that flight, but take a few measures beforehand. The Mayo Clinic recommends flying between 14 and 28 weeks of pregnancy because the risk of miscarriage or early delivery is low at this point. Consult your doctor before making any travel arrangements and verify that the airline does not place any limitations on pregnant passengers. Get up and walk about every half hour to prevent blood clots from forming on the plane, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. The extra space and convenience that an aisle seat provides are invaluable.

Wear your seatbelt at all times while driving. The shoulder component of the restraint should be placed over the collar bone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Pregnant ladies should steer clear of the airbag.

Give in to Your Cravings Sometimes

Source: BellyBelly

Pregnancy cravings are a mystery, and no one knows why they occur. Nature may be giving nutrients an expectant mother may be lacking, according to some experts. Some people believe it's purely a matter of feeling. Given that you're consuming an overall healthy diet, giving in to your cravings is a safe bet. You just have to be diligent about portion control and know which foods to avoid. These include raw and undercooked meat or eggs, brie and other unpasteurized cheeses, herbal teas, and raw sprouts, which should be avoided.

What are your tips to ace a pregnancy? Let us know in the comments below.