Pregnancy : Having A Baby? What To Expect Next

Having A Baby? What To Expect Next

While you can't control all aspects of your pregnancy, there are many ways that you can make the growing process easier for you and healthier for your baby. Read through these tips and choose those that best suit your situation.

Ideally, prenatal care is begun before pregnancy. A host of birth defects and infant conditions can be prevented with early prenatal care.

Try sleeping on the left side of your body once you reach your third trimester. By sleeping on the left side the fetus gets the greatest blood supply, and you also get a good blood flow to the kidneys and uterus. You don't want to rest on your back, because this position doesn't allow for proper blood flow.

When you are pregnant, keep your hands out of the cat litter box. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that can be passed to a pregnant woman through handling cat feces. Cats are a host for the toxoplasmosis life cycle, and if the infection is passed to the fetus, the consequences in pregnant women can lead to miscarriage, birth abnormalities and stillbirth.

Pregnancy is the time to pay additional attention to dental health. An increase in pregnancy hormones can make your gums bleed and swell when you floss and brush your teeth. Continue with your regular dental care routine, but try using a soft bristle brush and use a gentler touch.

You need to stop smoking before you consider getting pregnant. While smoking is dangerous to you and everyone around you, it is even more dangerous to your unborn child. Infants can develop lung problems like asthma if their mothers smoke.

If you have found that you are pregnant, yet you do not wish to disclose this information, you can enjoy non-alcoholic beverages at events in a way that does not attract the attention of others. For instance, you can say you are not drinking alcohol because it would conflict with a medicine you are taking. You can also pretend your drink is alcoholic such as claiming that water is vodka by putting a twist of lemon or lime in your glass. If you're going to play any of these sorts of tricks, get your partner involved. He can help you dispose of alcohol or help convince others that your drink is alcoholic.

Avoid overeating during pregnancy to prevent excessive weight gain. There is no need to eat double the amount of food just because you are expecting. In the second and third trimesters, an extra two to three hundred calories daily is sufficient to ensure that your baby develops properly.

Getting enough sleep and rest during pregnancy is important to keep you healthy and to allow your baby to develop properly. Wearing a comfortable outfit to bed and ensuring your bedroom is comfortable temperature-wise will help.

If you are having a baby, you have to be sure to exercise regularly. Exercise helps protect you and your baby during your pregnancy. You're less likely to miscarry if you exercise regularly; in addition, mothers who exercise have shorter labor times and more quickly lose weight after delivering their babies.

To relax your muscles, do some stretching before your bedtime every night. Leg cramps are typically a very common issue when pregnant because of added strain on your muscles. Having a good stretch before you climb into bed will provide your muscles with great relaxation and thus, you will not be prone to cramps in the wee hours of the morning. Also, this can improve the quality of sleep you get.

Avoid cigarette smoke and alcohol while you're pregnant to better the chances of having a healthy baby. Nicotine, alcohol and drugs, both legal and illicit, can harm your unborn baby. Therefore, to ensure a healthy baby, avoid alcohol and nicotine and eat a healthy diet.

One of the hardest things to deal with when you are pregnant is heartburn. Avoid heartburn and ease your suffering by eliminating or limiting foods that trigger it. Caffeine, chocolate and spicy food are all known to cause the uncomfortable condition. Eat smaller, more frequent meals and eat slowly, chewing your food well before swallowing.

Give yourself a bit of personal time. After you give birth, life will get more busy and you won't have much time for yourself. Go get that manicure, visit your best friends, or indulge in your favorite hobby. It will help you feel better, and the baby will too.

Pregnancy can improve your olfactory, so typical, everyday scents can make you nauseous. If you are sensitive to smells during pregnancy, you can carry a scented handkerchief to counteract the offensive smells. You can pull out the handkerchief and whiff the oil when passing stinky garbage cans, or other odors that bother you.

If you are thinking about having a child, see a doctor as soon as you can. Before you become pregnant, you should first consult your doctor to confirm that your body is healthy enough for pregnancy. If there's any changes or steps, make them now so you can boost your odds of conceiving.

To help you sleep better during your pregnancy, develop a bedtime routine. Having a regular routine during the night will enable your body to know when it's time to sleep, making it easier for you to fall asleep. Use soothing tools like a shower that is warm, a good book or getting a massage.

Even if you have not experienced heartburn before, you may during pregnancy. Avoid foods that contribute to heartburn such as spicy or fried foods. You also want to avoid acidic fruits, and chocolate and sodas.

Pre-plan what will happen at your birth. When you are having your baby, you should expect other people to cater to you. Pack your back with your insurance information, a camera, your pre-registration paperwork, the birth plan and some clothes for your baby to come home in.

Now that you've reached the end of this article, you can see that there's no reason that you can't have some influence on the outcome of your pregnancy. Use the advice offered above to take your pregnancy experience into your own hands and have the kind of pregnancy you want and deserve.