7 Good Habits During Pregnancy
Many new mothers face their pregnancy without having much idea of what’s to come. It’s normal to prioritize some aspects of food without taking into account other good habits during pregnancy that can influence the proper development of your baby.
If this is the case with you, it’s important to know that health goes far beyond eating and sleeping well. Pregnancy’s a fascinating stage in the life of every woman, but it also comes with many responsibilities, as the proper development of your baby depends largely on your habits.
As it’s very likely that you’re interested in having a successful and happy pregnancy, we’ve prepared the following list with some healthy habits that you can take into account to live each day in the best way possible until the long-awaited moment of your child’s birth arrives. We’ll tell you all about 7 good habits during pregnancy.
Are lifestyle changes necessary during pregnancy?
This stage is one of the most beautiful times in a woman’s life, but important care must also be taken to ensure good health. The future baby grows at an accelerated rate week by week, so it will need more and more nutritional requirements.
Your baby’s proper development isn’t only conditioned by what you eat, but it also depends a lot on lifestyle habits. For example, smoking can have negative and permanent consequences, and no one wants their baby to be born with health problems.
Are you planning a pregnancy or are you already at this stage? Consider the following tips on healthy habits to have the best possible experience and to ensure that everything goes as planned.
7 good habits during pregnancy
Exercise, nutrition, and proper mental health care are the cornerstones of this list. These are detailed below.
1. Low-intensity exercise, one of the good habits during pregnancy you should keep in mind
Many pregnant women wonder whether or not it’s feasible to exercise during this stage. The truth is that during the first months, as long as your treating physician authorizes it and the conditions are suitable, exercising can be very beneficial for the baby.
You should choose an exercise that’s of low or moderate intensity in order to avoid the risk of trauma to the abdomen or pelvis. You should also be very aware of your hydration and not overdo it, as overtraining during this stage is dangerous.
2. Maintain an increased calorie intake
Remember that there are two “mouths” to feed! Both you and your baby have increased energy requirements, so you should consume food within the context of a balanced diet. And of course, eating for two doesn’t mean eating twice as much!
This isn’t the time to improvise with diets or think too much about your weight. It’s best to eat several times a day and maintain the relationship between carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. You can ask your doctor all these questions at your next consultation.
Find out more: Myths of food in pregnancy
3. Attend social gatherings frequently
Having social gatherings frequently doesn’t mean that you have to live every day as if it were the last and abuse alcohol or other substances. You’ll be experiencing some unique and special days in which your body and your attitude will change a lot from one day to the next. Who better than your friends and family to enjoy this process with you?
Despite the work and home requirements, plan some days a week to enjoy with those friends you haven’t seen for a long time. Recall moments together over a picnic or escape to the beach for a weekend of sunbathing and swimming. Your mental health is important!
4. Share and document experiences with loved ones
This tip is more or less along the same lines as the previous one, and documenting moments will always be a great way to spend time in the future. Take advantage of all the time you have to take photos, record videos, or journal about how you feel and what you’re looking forward to.
Can you imagine you and your child sitting around years from now watching all those funny videos? They are priceless memories that will never be replaced by anything else. Take the opportunity to include your loved ones and enjoy every moment.
5. Consume nutritional supplements
In your first consultation with your obstetrician, it’s very likely that they’ll prescribe nutritional supplements such as iron or folic acid. These are used to prevent many diseases that often affect pregnant women and can affect the proper growth of the baby.
Iron is used to prevent anemia, while folic acid is used to prevent defects in the development of the nervous system of children. In fact, if you’ve gone to a pregnancy planning consultation, it’s very likely that your doctor has told you to take them a few weeks or months before.
Find out more: 6 iron-rich foods for pregnant women
6. Don’t hold in the urge to go to the bathroom, another of the most important good habits during pregnancy
The uterus, the organ intended to hold your future baby inside your belly during its development, grows constantly and is closely related to the urinary bladder, where urine is stored. You can imagine the most direct consequence, can’t you?
During pregnancy, you may have an increased urge to go to the bathroom and may even leak a little urine involuntarily. As much as possible, try not to hold back the urge to urinate. This can lead to urinary tract infections, which, in addition to being very uncomfortable, can have negative consequences on the baby’s development.
7. See your doctor regularly
Our last tip is the most obvious, but it’s important nonetheless. Your obstetrician will be your right hand, month after month, and you must follow their instructions to a T. If any of the recommendations seem strange or inadequate, ask them immediately. Don’t hesitate!
Remember that you can never skip a prenatal visit. Even in the last few weeks, regular check-ups are necessary to detect problems during your pregnancy. If you don’t like your doctor or have some other problem, ask to see a different one or switch to a different location, but don’t stop seeking professional help.
Take care of yourself in every possible way!
Health encompasses many aspects, not just the absence of disease. Preventing problems is also part of a healthy life, and to be successful in this regard during pregnancy, it would be wise to follow these and other tips that your doctor can give you.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Cereceda M, et al. Consideraciones para una adecuada alimentación en el embarazo. Revista Peruana de Ginecología y Obstetricia;153-159.