Guest Post: Tips for Staying Healthy During Pregnancy

This article was written by our first ever guest blogger, Katie Moore.  A mom of one. Katie says the best thing about being a mom is continuing to watch her daughter grow and develop into a little person, along with the joy and happiness she brings to her life every day.  She started blogging as an outlet to write and research and to connect to other moms and women online... and that's how she found my site!  

Katie is an active writer within the blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this niche.

In this guest post, she shares tips for staying healthy during pregnancy. Once again, thanks for these tips, Katie.  

Not surprisingly, pregnant women should pay special attention to their bodies and health during pregnancy in order to provide an optimal environment for the baby to develop in.  By taking advantage of these tips, a mom-to-be can ensure she’s starting her pregnancy off on the right, and healthy, foot.

[caption id="attachment_406" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Source of photo: ods.od.nih.gov[/caption]

Keep doctor appointments

When a woman realizes she is pregnant, the first thing she needs to do is make an appointment with her ob-gyn, to check how far along she is and to monitor her health and the baby’s health. Throughout pregnancy mom’s doctor will be essential in helping plan for her delivery; there are many choices that should be discussed and made in advance, such as what type of birthing process she would like, what pain medicines to use and other optional procedures like cord blood banking and circumcision.

Eat a healthy diet

Many women think that it’s okay to eat whatever they want when they are pregnant. While it’s okay to occasionally indulge in sweets, pregnant women should eat a mostly nutritious diet. They should consume 300 extra calories a day to give their babies the nutrition they need. A pregnant woman should eat a diet filled with lean meats, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. They should stay away from raw foods, processed meats, certain fish and soft cheeses. A pregnant woman should also drink plenty of water. Water can help keep a pregnant woman hydrated and prevent constipation.

Get plenty of rest

Pregnant women feel more tired than usual, so it is important for them to get plenty of rest. As a woman’s stomach grows bigger, it will be difficult for her to sleep in certain positions. A pregnant woman should sleep on her side with her knees bent to ensure comfort. Lying on her side can also prevent hemorrhoids, veins and swelling.

Exercise regularly

Even though it is more difficult to exercise while pregnant, women should make the effort to work out regularly. They should get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. They could do yoga, go for walks outside and swim. Exercising during pregnancy can increase energy, improve sleep, prevent extra weight gain and reduce pain and swelling.

Avoid alcohol and nicotine

Women need to stay away from alcohol and nicotine while they are pregnant. Alcohol and nicotine can cause birth defects, low birth weight, stillbirth and asthma.

Take prenatal vitamins

Even if a woman eats a very health diet during pregnancy, she can still not consume enough vital nutrients. That is why she needs to take prenatal vitamins during her pregnancy. Taking prenatal vitamins every day can help prevent neural tube defects, reduce the risk of low birth weight and promote strong bones and teeth.

[caption id="attachment_418" align="aligncenter" width="201"] Source of Photo: chfs.ky.gov[/caption]

With all of the above health tips taken into consideration, as well as any special recommendations for her a doctor, a woman will be doing her best to stay healthy throughout, and even after her pregnancy.

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If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter @moorekm26. A copy of  this post is also published at http://tiffskinnyjeans.blogspot.com

From Humps to Bump: The Road to Getting Pregnant

What does it take to get pregnant? Well, you'll have to have sex of course! But getting pregnant, for some moms is not on voice command. Some mommies, like me, took a long road before getting there. But here's a thought, timing is key! When all the stars converge on that fateful moment , you'll get the two lines in that P test. Actually, sa tagal na din naming nag-try, dumating din sa punto na nagduda din ako sa sarili ko, baog kaya ako? Hindi rin pala ganoon kadali magbuntis. We’ve been actively trying for almost a year, wala pa rin? Naasar nga ako kasi at 28, diba dapat hindi ko pa ito pinoproblema?

[caption id="attachment_1186" align="aligncenter" width="300"] "Kung uukol, sadyang bubukol." This was our mantra before husband and i got pregnant.                                                    Source of Photo:slocounty.ca.gov[/caption]

Aside from waiting for the stars to converge in approval of your pregnancy, here's what you can do:

Have an OB workup

• Even before we got married, hubby and I had our fertility assessed. Para mayroon kayong idea kung anong steps ang dapat gawin. Some suggest going to the OB after one year of actively trying.


• Aside from the routing BP and weight check, the OB gave me a pap smear. I had to undergo physical exam and vaginal ultrasound.My hubby had to have a sperm count. We were ok on all our tests, happily.

Initially the OB will give you tips on getting the the "expecting" road. Among the tips we got from our OB:

• Put a pillow under you butt after sex, to help the sperms get where they're supposed to.


• Have a good rest on your fertile days, stress decreases your chance.

Know your fertile days.

• Your OB will assess your menstrual cycle. She'll plot your ovulation calendar and  your  fertile days. At this point i was kinda questioning the pleasure of sex. Imagine, may schedule na ang sexy time. Kaloka. Pero, dito na nga papasok yung timing eh.


• Here’s Web MD ovulation calendar if you want to get a general idea of your fertile days. You'll have to input the first day of menstruation and it's gonna calculate your fertile. Maswerte ang mga may regular menstrual cycle, madaling malaman ang kanilang fertile days.

Take multivitamins or supplements with folic acid.

• Take prenatal vitamins with folic acid. Folic acid is essential for  pregnant women. This prevents birth defects babies like spina bifida and clept lip.


• Take folid acid even before you get pregnant. According to womenshealth.gov by the time a woman finds out she is pregnant and is not taking folic acid, it may be too late to prevent those birth defects.If i remember correctly, i was taking vitamins with folic acid 2 months even before knowing we're having a baby.


• WebMD lists these food as good sources of folic acid from:
  
  
  
  • Leafy green vegetables, like spinach, broccoli, and lettuce
  
  
  • Beans, peas, and lentils
  
  
  • Fruits like lemons, bananas, and melons
  
  
  • Fortified and enriched products, like some breads, juices, and cereals

Eat healthy.

• The OB did not say if there are foods for moms hoping to get pregnant, or for aspiring dad, too. But i guess since eating more fruits and vegetables makes your healthier, then this increases your chances of getting pregnant!

Exercise!

• Overweight women tend to have difficulty getting pregnant.


• Women falling in the healthy catergory have better chances of getting pregnant. To check your ideal wait, use this body mass index calculator. Your BMI should be in the normal level. Nasa borderline ako ng normal at overweight before i got pregnant. So medyo nag jogging, biking ako ng konti.

Go for a healthy lifestyle.

• Quit smoking.


• Limit caffeine.

Before moving ahead....  This was what went through my mind... And i think every couple should think about this too. Consider these questions: 

What's your ideal age to get pregnant?

My parents used to say, the mid20s was the ripe age to have kids! Kumbaga your body and status is at its "prime". My friends and i went philosophical discussing this.  Well,  I believe there’s really no RIGHT AGE when it comes to having a baby. What matters most is whether or not you are READY – emotionally, physically and financialy. Sino ba ang magsasabi na READY ka na?

Am i financially ready to raise a child?

Raising a child calls for so much expenses - like the hospital bill from giving birth, buying baby products, regular immunization shots, etc. It can get crazy when you try to put a number on this one question - how much is needed to raise a kid?  Pero kailan ba magiging sapat ang kinikita natin, para magka-baby? I think i can't really put a number on the amount i need to raise a child. Right now, we getting by ok naman...

Gaano ba ka-ready ang gusto mo? i think that's the question. When the right time comes, you'll be ready.  Every pregnancy is different. You'll just have to move on and learn as you go!!! It's true what most moms say, having a baby is worth the wait!

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