Ten Steps to a Healthy Pregnancy

You are pregnant. Congratulations! Now you’ll want to do everything in your power to have a healthy and problem-free pregnancy culminating in a perfect baby. Here are 10 tips for a healthy pregnancy gathered from the best pregnancy advice around… Get early care Hopefully you took some pregnancy and conception advice and started looking after yourself well before baby was conceived. If you are not yet pregnant, see your GP now for a pre-natal check-up to be screened for conditions that could potentially lead to complications. If you are pregnant arrange your first check up as soon as possible. Watch your diet Forget all that “eating for two” nonsense. The fact is a pregnant woman only needs about 200 extra calories a day. Eat plenty of protein (70 grams a day) and foods rich in calcium. Cut certain foods from your diet (undercooked eggs and meat, unpasteurized dairy products and fruit juices, certain seafood and deli meats) to avoid bacteria which could harm the baby. Take prenatal vitamins Vitamin supplements created especially for pregnant women will contain all the right amounts of folic acid and other minerals and vitamins (eg iron) that you need. Make sure you stick to the recommended dose. Do some exercise Some form of gentle, regular exercise should be carried out during pregnancy. It will help prevent or ease aches and pains, improve poor circulation prepare you for the rigours of labour. Don’t get overheated or dehydrated. Get some rest Among the most obvious, but too often ignored pieces of pregnancy advice is to rest when possible. Pregnant woman often feel intense fatigue during the first trimester and again in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Nap or at least put your feet up for a while. Cut out alcohol and drugs This is good pregnancy AND conception advice as alcohol can affect fertility. Anything you drink while pregnant will pass to your baby’s blood leading to potential developmental problems. Drinking also increases your risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Any drug that mum uses will get into the unborn baby's bloodstream. If you have a drug problem, seek help now. Stop smoking Smoking increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirths, growth problems, placental abruption and premature birth. There’s help out there to quit. Everyone should stay away from second-hand smoke. Cut out caffeine Drinking too much caffeine during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage. Caffeine has no nutritional value and impedes the body’s ability to absorb iron. It’s also a stimulant so can keep you awake. Consider the environment If your job entails you being exposed to chemicals, heavy metals, certain biologic agents, or radiation, you'll need to consider whether it’s safe to continue. Some cleaning products, pesticides and solvents can also be harmful. Check your teeth Brush and floss regularly and get check-ups (they are free during pregnancy) as pregnancy hormones can make you more susceptible to gum disease.