Have you recently found out you’re pregnant? Congratulations! This is a time of great change for your body, and there is a lot that you can do to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy.
Visit Your Doctor Early in the Pregnancy
If you have gotten a positive test with an over-the-counter kit, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor or local clinic for confirmation. If you don’t have a doctor or health insurance, many communities have locations that offer pregnancy testing Knoxville at low or no cost. Seeing a doctor at the beginning of your pregnancy is important because they can monitor your weight, blood pressure, and iron levels at the start. Knowing your health at the beginning of this journey allows your doctor to measure any changes over time.
Don’t Drink Alcohol or Smoke
Now that you have to consider your own health and that of your baby, this is a good time to think about what you put into your body. If you smoke during pregnancy, oxygen levels in your blood decrease, and toxins are introduced into your bloodstream. This means your baby also has less oxygen available and is exposed to the same toxins, which are detrimental to their development. So break the smoking habit right away, and stay away from secondhand smoke too. Alcohol also enters your bloodstream after consumption and may cause low birth weight, miscarriage, and congenital disabilities. Turn to no alcoholic alternatives while you are pregnant to ensure you and your baby stay healthy.
Take a Vitamin with Folic Acid
Early in pregnancy, you may not feel up to eating much, making it difficult to get all the nutrients you and your baby need through diet alone. Supplement with a daily vitamin with folic acid, a component vital to your baby’s brain and spinal cord development. If the vitamins upset your stomach, try taking them with a few crackers or juice.
Drink More Water
During pregnancy, your blood volume increases up to 50% to support your developing baby. To help your body during this time, it’s important to drink enough water to avoid getting dehydrated. If you don’t get enough to drink, you may feel dizzy and tired and experience constipation and hemorrhoids. Aim for at least 10 glasses a day and add some lemon slices for a change in flavor.
Get Plenty of Rest
During pregnancy, your body is working overtime. It’s normal to feel exhausted at all times of the day so take breaks when you can. If you work, take a quick nap during your lunch break and get to bed earlier than normal, aiming for at least eight hours of sleep each night. Take time to enjoy some relaxation during the weekend to allow your body to rest as much as needed.
Staying healthy during pregnancy is not difficult to do. Make sure you visit your doctor shortly after discovering you’re pregnant, stay away from tobacco and alcohol, take a good vitamin, drink a lot of water, and sleep when you can. All these steps lead to a healthy mom and baby.
