Nicky Pilkington - A Step-By-Step Plan to a Healthy Pregnancy

A Step-By-Step Plan to a Healthy Pregnancy

by: Nicky Pilkington

Having a baby is an exciting moment. However, the nine months leading up to
the experience can be a bit unnerving. Most women worry throughout their pregnancy
about the health of their baby. To alleviate the stress and worry that often
creep up during pregnancy, plan instead to have a healthy pregnancy and you
can rest assured that you have done your very best to have a healthy baby.

1. Get in Shape Early. When you find out that you’re pregnant is not
the time to start a new diet or exercise program. If you are planning to become
pregnant, make sure you are at a healthy weight and in the best physical activity.
Doing this will help you during your pregnancy and can help you to have a problem-free
delivery. If your pregnancy is unexpected and you aren’t in the best shape
possible, don’t worry about it. It is possible to have a healthy baby
while limiting the amount of excess weight that you gain. Eating plenty of fruit
and vegetables will give your baby the nourishment it needs while helping you
to limit the amount of weight you gain.

2. Your Baby is What You Eat. Your baby depends on the lifeline that you and
they share to grow properly. Following a diet that includes all the major food
groups is probably the simplest approach to a healthy diet. You may discover
your appetite changing during the course of your pregnancy. This is common and
shouldn’t alarm you if you have unusual food cravings. It is quite acceptable
to enjoy “bad” food once in a while, as long as you limit how frequently
you indulge in these foods. Since some nutrients aren’t abundant in most
foods, doctors often recommend that pregnant women begin taking vitamin formulas
designed specifically for them.

3. Exercise regularly. While a rigorous exercise program is unsuitable when
you are pregnant, it is a good idea to try and get some exercise every day.
Many women are nervous about doing anything that may harm their baby. Walking
on a daily basis is beneficial for your health as well as for your baby. Before
you begin any exercise program, you should first discuss your plans with your
doctor.

4. Avoid the big no-nos. If you follow only one step in this plan for a healthy
pregnancy, avoid the big no-nos: don’t drink, smoke, or take drugs (this
includes medications that your doctor has not approved). There are many debates
about how these habits can affect your baby. The very fact that it is slightly
possible to cause injury to your baby should be enough for you to avoid indulging
in any of them during your pregnancy. The use of caffeine during pregnancy is
debatable. You should discuss this with your doctor if you normally consume
coffee, tea, or soda on a regular basis.

5. Pamper Yourself. Pregnancy is a special time and people will treat you with
more attention. You should relish in this time because soon things will return
to normal! Don’t forget to give yourself special attention. Remember,
if you’re stressed your baby will feel stressed too. One of the most important
things you can do to pamper yourself is to get sufficient rest. If before you
were pregnant you spent days burning the midnight oil, you need to make sure
you have this habit licked before you become pregnant.

About The Author

Nicky Pilkington

You can find additional information about preparing for pregnancy by
visiting pregnancy-step-by-step.org. nicky@pilkster.com