Expecting a baby is an experience in which many moms start embracing healthy prenatal habits. Including routines, diet and exercise changes, for both their and their baby’s well-being. It’s well known that how a mom cares for herself during gestation impacts her experience—including labor and delivery—significantly, in addition to having a direct effect on the health of both for the long-term. That’s why knowing the right prenatal habits can be a life-changing experience that every mom should know about. If you wish to have a positive experience through and after your pregnancy, keep reading.
The Importance of Healthy Prenatal Habits
Your prenatal habits affect both you and your baby, not only during gestation, but also after birth. In other words, all your routines, diet habits, lifestyle and exercise practices while pregnant have a direct impact on the health of both for the long-term.
Moms who don’t follow healthy practices throughout their pregnancy tend to be more likely to suffer from pregnancy-related problems, and risk health issues like type 2 diabetes or hypertension in later years. Not only that, but also endanger the baby with complications like low birth weight, preterm birth or stillbirth. To make sure that both of you are safe and healthy, follow these life-changing habits.
9 Prenatal Habits That Can Change Your and Your Baby’s Life
1. Go to Your Antenatal Care Appointments
Taking care of your baby’s wellness begins even before birth, and going to your antenatal care appointments is a crucial part of it. In these appointments you will learn about healthy prenatal habits to follow throughout your pregnancy, go through prenatal exams and routine check-ups to see that everything is ok with both you and your baby’s health. As well as treat any infection, or complication that might occur during gestation to avoid future problems.
Read more: OB/GYN in Lamesa, Texas: When Should I See a Specialist?
2. Keep a Healthy Diet
The famous “eating for two” doesn’t mean eating more than what you usually eat. Actually, additional intake of food can lead to weight gain, which is normal during the prenatal period, but shouldn’t be excessive. Gaining too much weight during gestation could risk complications like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and others. To avoid health issues such as those, making healthy food choices is the way to go. To eat healthy, try a balanced and varied diet that includes fruits and vegetables, proteins, pregnancy-safe seafood, whole grains and dairy. Limit on junk food, and avoid seafood high in mercury, and uncooked food like sushi.
3. Take Your Prenatal Vitamins
During the prenatal period your nutritional needs increase, making it necessary to eat healthy and take nutritional supplements like folic acid, iron and calcium. Both to ensure your baby’s health growth and development and to help reduce risks of health problems for you like anemia or exhaustion of her own vitamins.
4. Avoid Harmful Habits
Harmful habits include drinking alcohol, smoking, opioid use, among others. These habits can cause health problems for the mom during pregnancy and delivery, and developmental or growth problems for the baby, like:
- Risk low birth weight.
- Risk of premature birth.
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
- Increase chances for lifelong physical, behavioral or intellectual disabilities.
- Among other health complications.
There’s nothing like a safe level of alcohol or amount of tobacco in pregnancy. Because of the consequences these habits can have in both mom and baby, it is better to avoid them completely. If quitting any of these habits is difficult for you, try addressing the situation with a behavioral health specialist.
Read more: Choosing the Right Behavioral Health Specialist in Lamesa, Texas.
5. Limit Your Caffeine Intake
Unlike the point before, caffeine doesn’t have to be completely avoided, but reduced. The recommended amount of caffeine in the prenatal period is no more than 200 mg per day. Make sure to read the nutrition labels carefully, since the amount of caffeine varies depending on the drink or food.
6. Go to Dental Check-Ups
During the prenatal period, hormonal and immunological changes can cause shifts in your dental health. Raising problems like gingivitis, periodontitis, tooth erosion, tooth decay, among others. Although somehow normal, it shouldn’t be dismissed, go to dental check-ups when necessary and always inform your provider that you’re pregnant.
Related content: Why Look For Dentistry in Lamesa, Texas: Preventive Care And Other 4 Reasons.
7. Make Staying Hydrated One of Your Prenatal Habits
Staying hydrated during pregnancy can be highly beneficial for both you and your baby. Drinking water regularly as part of your prenatal habits can reduce swelling and relieve leg cramps. Additionally, this helps you prevent complications like low amniotic fluid, kidney stones or constipation.
8. Be Physically Active
Exercising in the prenatal period is safe and even beneficial, because it helps to avoid common complications during gestation like gaining extra weight, and reduce risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Exercise can come with various benefits for you, like:
- Regulate your mood.
- Sleep better at night.
- Prepare the body for labor.
- Help with back and joint pain.
- Boost circulation and reduce blood pressure.
Don’t exercise if you’re feeling unwell or outside when the weather is hot. Also, avoid extenuating or violent sports, try gentle exercises like walking, swimming or yoga instead.
9. Look After Your Mental Health
During pregnancy, sadness, anxiety or stress can be common, but they shouldn’t be ignored. Try sharing your emotions with your partner or family, physical activities and breathing exercises, antenatal classes, or talking with your doctor about your worries.
Related content: Texas Behavioral Health: A Guide to Better Habits, Emotions, and Daily Life.
Comprehensive Prenatal Services to Support You During Your Pregnancy
Pregnancy care is more than following healthy prenatal habits. During pregnancy an OB/GYN that provides you with prenatal services it’s going to be of help to prevent and treat any complications that might arise. At South Plains Rural Health we can provide the medical support that you need during your pregnancy. Prioritize you and your baby’s health by contacting us or visiting us in Lamesa, Texas, to set up an appointment.