Featured Image Caption: Pregnancy Health and Wellness Tips
Carrying a child is a wonderful experience. When you become pregnant, though, it’s important that you step up your health and fitness game. It’s simple – the healthier you are, the healthier your baby will be when you give birth. Here are five tips to help you along the way.
1. Take prenatal vitamins regularly
When you’re carrying a child, one of the quickest and easiest ways to ensure optimum health for you both is to make sure that you take your prenatal vitamins on a regular basis. Prenatal vitamins provide minerals and vitamins like iron, calcium, and folic acid to you and baby to cover any gaps in nutrition that might not be generated by your own diet.
You can pick up packs of vitamins at most pharmacies or stores. If you’re not 100% sure about what type of vitamins you need, contact your doctor for a consultation. They can advise you on the type of vitamins that will help you have a happy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
2. Compression gloves can ease the pain
One of the great many side effects of carrying a child may be carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Many women find that they suffer from this ailment in the later stages of their pregnancy when fluid builds up in the issues of the wrist and pressed down on the median nerve there.
Symptoms of CTS include numbness, tingling, as well as weakness in the hand, and/or sharp wrist pain. When you start to experience any of the above, it’s important that you do something about it to maintain the functionality of your hands. Investing in a compression glove could be all it takes to relieve debilitating carpal tunnel pain; compression gloves reduce tissue inflammation and aid blood flow in the wrist.
3. Eat red meat, chicken, and nuts
You may not realize to what extent, but the diet you eat when pregnant will have a direct impact on your wellbeing and, of course, the health of your baby. There’s a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to what women should eat when carrying a child.
Talk with your doctor about diet recommendations (what to include and what to avoid) and make weekly menus to stay on track. Research from Cornell University recently found that the inclusion of the nutrient choline could help to boost your baby’s brain. Foods that offer a lot of choline include red meat, poultry, nuts, egg yolks, and legumes. Be sure to include them in moderation in your day to day diet.
4. Take care of your oral hygiene
You likely already know the importance of oral hygiene, but did you know that this issue can affect your unborn child? A study from the Society for General Microbiology found that germs and bacteria in your mouth can be transmitted to your child through amniotic fluid.
Should this happen, the risks include premature birth, low birth weight, and infections. It’s well worth stepping up your oral hygiene game when you fall pregnant. That means taking extra care when flossing, cleaning your teeth, and rinsing.
5. Cut back on the caffeine
If you love drinking a tall cup of coffee each morning, here’s a bit of bad news. Many experts suggest that pregnant women cut out caffeine altogether while they are carrying their child. There’s research to suggest that drinking coffee and tea during your pregnancy can increase risk of low birth weight.
Should you find that you lack energy when cutting back on caffeine, it may help to eat a little fruit and oatmeal in the morning instead, if your doctor agrees. Healthy vitamins, fiber, and a little sugar can help to boost your energy levels!
By Joe Fleming
who is the President at ViveHealth. He is passionate about healthy lifestyles and living a full life. He enjoys sharing and expressing these interests through his writing. With a goal to inspire others and fight ageism, Joe writes to help people of all backgrounds and ages overcome life’s challenges. His work ranges from articles on wellness, holistic health and aging to social narratives, motivational pieces and news stories. For Joe, helping others is vital.
Member since December, 2017
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