Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful, empowering times of a woman’s life.
It’s when you get to experience your body in an entirely different way and start to form a relationship with your little one. There’s nothing like the excitement of sharing the news, planning your baby shower, and watching the baby grow in sonograms.
But, there are some more serious things to consider, like women’s health care and baby budgeting. Luckily, you have nine months to focus on yourself, emotionally and physically, while you await the baby’s arrival.
Here are ten women’s health care practices to do during pregnancy.
1. Stay Hydrated
On a regular basis, you should be drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day. While you’re pregnant, this amount goes up to 10-12 glasses.
Water is a crucial supporter of bodily functions. It helps keep you alert and energized. It also aids in the distribution of fluids and nutrients between yourself and the baby.
The more water you drink, the better you stabilize your body for the extra duties it performs during pregnancy.
Avoid caffeine as much as you can and keep sugary drinks to a minimum. These can actually deplete your hydration efforts. Of course, no alcohol should be consumed while you are pregnant and while breastfeeding your newborn.
2. Eat Healthy Foods
What you eat during pregnancy is just as important as what you drink.
The best things you can load up on are fresh, natural foods. Stock your kitchen with fruits and vegetables and find new ways to incorporate them into your diet. Try making smoothies and juices, a?ai bowls, and tossing more fresh foods into your salads and leftover bowls.
Eat foods that are high in fiber, like grains and beans, too. Include more nuts in your diet as well – these are high in good fats and protein.
Don’t forget about your prenatal vitamins! These are an essential women’s health care tool during pregnancy. Taking vitamins ensures you and your baby are getting all the nutrients each of you need.
3. Avoid or Cut Down on Certain Foods
As much as food is your friend during pregnancy, there are certain things you should watch out for.
Some foods that are normally recommended for a well-balanced diet should be moderated. These include dairy and fish or shellfish. Too much of these foods can cause a spike in bacteria that is bad for your baby.
Other foods have bacteria that should be avoided entirely – like lunch meat and uncooked meats (carpaccio, sushi, etc). If you have a sweet tooth, also try to cut back on that.
4. Sleep, Sleep, Sleep
Just like the importance of a good diet increases during pregnancy, the value of regular sleep does as well. Sleep is essential to women’s health care for mind and body.
It is what gives you enough energy to take on each day, helps regulate hormone production, and even helps maintain memory functions. It can also keep mood swings at bay!
You will likely find yourself needing to sleep more during your pregnancy. As such, make it a priority to give yourself this time. Begin cutting back on work and stop stuffing your weekends with plans.
5. Move Your Body
Be sure to balance the right amount of sleep with a good level of movement.
If you already live an active lifestyle, you won’t be able to do the same workouts throughout your pregnancy. But, it is a great women’s health care tip to at least make some sort of exercise effort.
Talk to a personal trainer about workout moderations you can make. Some will suggest group fitness for pregnant women, prenatal yoga and other stretching exercises, or at least to cut back on the intensity of your weightlifting.
There are endless options to what your pregnant body can still do. You just have to understand how to turn your preferred fitness routine into something that is still challenging for you and safe for your baby.
6. Focus on Your Feet
Whatever kind of exercise you take on, remember to take care of your joints and muscles.
Most women already know they will need to watch their back as their pregnant belly grows. But, not everyone understands the value of foot care.
Lay down with your legs slightly elevated on a regular basis. This relieves the pressure your belly puts on your feet while you’re walking around all day.
Such support helps maintain healthy ankles for life and minimizes swelled ankles during pregnancy.
7. Take Care of Your Skin
While you’re laying down, take advantage of your resting time to rub lotion on your belly. Things like cocoa butter and even essential oils can help reduce stretch marks.
This isn’t your average women’s health care practice, but it is one worth mentioning.
Preserving your skin now makes it stronger and healthier later. You will thank yourself as you have more children down the line, or simply when you get back to the beach.
8. Keep a Routine
No matter which health tips you choose to use, try to make them consistent. This goes for eating and drinking, sleeping, and exercising. Routine is everything.
The better you stick to a personal care schedule, the better you can handle everything else during your pregnancy.
You will have the energy to go baby shopping and the focus to budget and plan. You will be able to ease into spending less time at work and more time with yourself and soon to be newborn.
These are just a few examples of what proper time management during pregnancy can do.
9. Talk to Your Doctor
Speaking of managing everything, don’t forget to include your doctor in your women’s health care conversations and decisions. Be open with him/her about how you are feeling mentally and physically.
Talk about everything from morning sickness to delivery options. Discuss where your blood levels are at, what kinds of foods you are eating, and how you’re staying active.
Every little detail makes a big difference for you and your baby’s health.
10. Listen to Your Body
Last but not least, make a conscious effort to listen to your body. This goes beyond knowing when you are tired and when you need to eat.
Pay attention to how well you are sleeping at night, how your emotions feel, and more. Notice if your ability to focus is still what it used to be and how other bodily functions are performing. Any aches or pains should be treated with care.
If you have even the slightest sense that something is wrong, do something about it.
Post-Pregnancy Women’s Health Care
The concept of taking good care of yourself transforms when you take on pregnancy and motherhood. There are more responsibilities your body has to manage, which require the proper health to do so.
Thankfully, women’s health care isn’t rocket science. It is actually pretty easy to have a good pregnancy and a generally healthy lifestyle afterward.
You just have to know the basics of personal care!
For more healthy living tips and tricks, click here.
