A Guide To Getting Through 40 Weeks Of Pregnancy
Pregnancy can be a wonderful time for a woman as well as a stressful one. With so many pieces of advice coming from the media, friends, family, books and magazines, it can be a chore to sort through it all and figure out what to do while managing hormonal changes. This article will sort through all the details and lay out some of the most helpful pieces of advice regard your pregnancy.
Don't feel bad turning down social events while pregnant. The people close to you will understand. During pregnancy you may feel fatigued and nauseous. Do not push your body to its limits if it does not have to be.
Write a birth plan early in your pregnancy. Keep a list of the things you absolutely want to have happen, like the presence of an older sibling, and things you absolutely don't want unless it begins to affect the safety of the baby. If you have these things written down ahead of time, you can discuss them with your birth team and make sure they happen.
For first time mothers, babysit for a family member or friend. It never hurts to learn more about how to care of a baby before yours is brought into the world. In addition of learning how to care for a baby, you will know how to properly hold and feed yours.
Do not avoid sex when you are pregnant. Many women gynecologist near me are under the assumption that sex can harm their unborn child, but this is not true. In fact, sex can be helpful. Women have high hormone levels when pregnant, and having sex can help relieve some of the stress that these hormones give them.
Pass off the cat litter cleaning duties to someone else once you have found out you are pregnant. Changing cat litter while pregnant can cause you to develop toxoplasmosis. While toxoplasmosis is generally mild to the mother, it can cause serious complications in the fetus. Be safe and just avoid it entirely.
Enlist the services of a doula. A doula is someone who is trained to be a birth coach. This can give you much support during labor. They can offer experience and comfort and help guide you and your partner through the process.
After you get pregnant, don't change the cat litter anymore. Cat feces can contain Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan that can cause toxoplasmosis. Cats are considered a host for toxoplasmosis life cycle, and if the infection gets passed on to their fetus, the repercussions for the pregnant woman could lead to birth abnormalities, stillbirth and miscarriages.
Take breastfeeding classes and bone up with some books prior to giving birth. Breastfeeding is best for baby but there can be a lot of pitfalls along the way that could sabotage your progress. Taking a class prior to having to actually breastfeed, will help you be calmer and more in control of feeding your new baby.
Although it may be controversial to some, if you are pregnant it may be wise to think over your options. Sometimes you simply are not ready to have a child. With so many options ranging from abortion, to adoption, to having the child, it is in one's best interests to think it through thoroughly, because the only person you'd end up hurting is the child.
Try to rest as much as possible when you find out that you are pregnant. When you sleep, you can restore the minerals and nutrients that your body needs so that you can maximize productivity. When pregnant, you will lose energy quicker so sleep will play a large role in restoring functionality.
When trying to perform kick counts late in pregnancy, your previously active baby may occasionally scare you with fewer movements than normal. If you are concerned, try drinking a caffeinated soda or something with a bit of sugar in it. Often, this is enough to wake up your baby and jump-start his or her movements again.
Don't drink alcohol while pregnant. Drinking any alcohol at all during pregnancy increases the risk of several birth defects and puts the baby at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause mental retardation, loss of motor skills, and other problems. Consider drinking milk or tea instead if you are used to having a drink with dinner.
To prepare yourself for the grand finale of your pregnancy, the birth of your baby, take a tour of the hospital facilities where you will give birth. You will feel more comfortable on the big day if the room is familiar and having that feeling can make your labor a more comfortable experience.
Heartburn is a common occurrence during pregnancy. Luckily there are several things that you can do to help keep heartburn at bay. Stay away from greasy and spicy foods. These are known to aggravate heartburn. Also, eat smaller, more frequent meals. Drinking after you eat can help hold off heartburn as well.
Talk with your doctor about getting a DHA supplement during your pregnancy. DHA is a omega-3 fatty acid that is essential for proper development of the brain and eyes of your baby. Supplements are generally needed to ensure the proper amount of DHA. Fish is a strong source of DHA but women are generally told to stay away from most fish during pregnancy due to mercury levels so a supplement is generally your best bet.
The amount of information available for dealing with pregnancy is overwhelming at times. This article condenses it all into simple, straightforward pieces of advice to help manage that information, and reduce the stress involved in pregnancy. There are many aspects of pregnancy to embrace and this article will help guide you toward those.