How to Care for Your Health During Pregnancy

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Caring for your health during pregnancy cannot only help you to avoid unwanted weight gain following the birth of your son or daughter, but it can also prevent a low birth weight and could help you to prevent a variety of medical conditions.
To effectively protect you and your baby over the next nine months, find out how to care for your health during pregnancy.
Embrace a Healthy Diet
Every pregnant woman must embrace a healthy, balanced diet, which will ensure they are providing their baby with the appropriate nutrients while avoiding pre-natal obesity. To do so, incorporate many colorful fruit and vegetables into your meals, and ensure you consume plenty of fiber, calcium-rich foods, and products low in saturated fat.
Choose Vitamin-Rich Produce
It is imperative to consume your daily recommendation of folic acid and calcium during pregnancy, which can support your baby’s growth and development. You can find the essential vitamins and minerals you need from the food you eat and a daily multivitamin.
Foods rich in folic acid can include:
  • Spinach
  • Broccoli
  • Kidney beans
  • Oranges
You also can stock up on calcium by incorporating milk, yogurt, and cheese into your diet. It is, however, important to talk to your doctor before consuming a daily prenatal vitamin.
Don’t Forget to Exercise
Don’t spend the next nine months on the sofa, as you will need to get your body moving to maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent the development of medical issues. For example, you could go for a daily walk to stretch your legs and burn calories.
You also might benefit from pregnancy Pilates from Sydney Physio Solutions, which can activate your pelvic floor, improve your spinal mobility, and help you to manage any musculoskeletal injuries.
Hydrate Your Body
Pregnant women are more prone to dehydration, which is why you must ensure you are drinking plenty of water each day. It is essential to drink a minimum of eight glasses of water per day, which can:
  • Regulate your body temperature
  • Carry essential nutrients to your baby
  • Support digestion
  • Flush away waste and toxins
Good hydration can ultimately help the amniotic fluid to form and can support the production of extra blood and new tissue in the body.
Steer Clear of Various Foods
There are some foods women must avoid consuming during pregnancy. For example, you must avoid eating the following items:
  • Rare or raw meat
  • Sushi
  • Raw or runny eggs
  • Homemade mayonnaise
  • Liver
  • Unpasteurized milk
  • Soft cheeses
It is also important to steer clear of certain varieties of fish that are high in mercury, such as king mackerel, marlin, bigeye tuna, shark and swordfish. If in doubt, talk to your doctor about what you can or cannot eat.
Avoid Alcohol and Smoking
It is imperative to avoid both alcohol and smoking during pregnancy, which can lead to various health complications for your baby. It is also crucial for pregnant women to avoid passive smoking, which can also impact their baby’s health.

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