- You Should Get Regular Medical Exams
- One of the easiest and best ways to avoid problems and complications during pregnancy is to get regular medical exams from your doctor or midwife.
- You Should Get the RDA (Reccomended Daily Allowance) for Folic Acid
- By getting the proper amount of Folic Acid you significantly reduce your baby's risk for spinal bifida. The current recommendation is 0.4 mg of folic acid daily. See the CDC's recommendations for more information. See also this page and this page.
- You Should Check Your Immunity to German Measles (Rubella)
- German Measles (Rubella), if caught during pregnancy, can lead to miscarriages and fetal deformities. The best way to avoid this possibility is to be vaccinated for Rubella prior to getting pregnant. See this CDC article for more information, as well as this article.
- You Should Take Prenatal Vitamins
- Both you and your baby need plenty of vitamins during pregnancy, and by taking special prenatal vitamins you guarantee that you are getting everything you need. Getting the proper vitamins can also help you avoid diabetes.
- You Should Eat Plenty of Protein
- The RDA of protein for pregnant women is 75 grams but 100 grams is often recommended. Adequate protein is essential for the development of the baby (especially the brain) and may help protect against preeclampsia during pregnancy. See this page for information on protein.
- You Should Eat Well and Get Plenty of Exercise.
- Your diet needs to include plenty of vitamins, minerals, fiber and so on, just as it normally should. You also need to exercise and watch your weight as your normally would. See this article, this article, this article, this article, this article, this article and this article for more information.
- You Should Be Sure to Get Enough Fat in Your Diet
- Fat and cholesteral, which you normally try to avoid, are important for absorbing the fat soluable vitamins (A,D,E, and K) and for strechable skin. Fat is also necessary for the developing baby brain. That does not mean you want to be over-consuming it, but you need to make sure you are getting enough. There are so many fat-free foods on the market today (fat free milk, butter, ice cream, meat, bread, cookies etc.), it is very easy to consume a fat-free diet without realizing it. 2 tablespoons of fat a day is recommended for pregnant women. Also, certain types of fat are important as described in this article.
- You Should Do Kegal Exercises
- Weak kegal muscles can contribute to pain during birth, premature flexion of the baby's head and a prolonged second stage. Childbirth can also weaken these muscles and cause discomfort afterwards. The following show how to do the kegal exercises. See this article and this page.
- You Should Use House Plants
- A modern house is full of hundreds of hidden chemicals that are emitted by paints and stains, carpet, particle board, household cleaners and so on. One of the best ways to filter and remove these chemicals is with house plants. Spider plants, for example, are known to be good at removing formaldehyde (which is quite common in paints).
- You Should Focus on Your Child and Avoid Negative Thoughts and Actions
- This article discusses pernatal bonding and the benefits of avoiding stress and negative thoughts. See also this article.
- You Should Take Care When Traveling
- Traveling when pregnant requires some special considerations, especially when traveling to foreign countries. See this article, See this article and this article.
- You Should Talk to Your Doctor about Existing Conditions and Your Family History
- If you have any pre-existing conditions, chronic problems or a family history of reproductive problems, you should let your doctor know about them so that he/she can take appropriate action. Pre-existing conditions include things such as diabetes, herpes (and other STDs), heart problems, epilepsy and high blood pressure.
