Pregnancy Explained A to Z

. . . Pregnancy Lifestyle . . .

When you're pregnant, you're no longer responsible for just one person but two. The little one growing inside you depends on you for nutrition and a safe resting place for the next nine months. So the lifestyle choices you make during pregnancy will not only affect your health, but also your baby's.

To increase your chance of carrying a healthy baby to term, remember to get extra rest, eat healthier foods, and maintain some kind of exercise routine. Not only will these habits make you feel better, it gives you a better chance of having a better pregnancy. Don't forget to avoid indulging in bad habits - like alcohol, smoking, and drug use - as this may harm your baby.

Abusive relationships are bad in general, but it is essential that you escape abuse when you are pregnant. Abuse often gets worse during pregnancy, which will put both you and your baby at risk.

. . .Pregnancy Symptoms. . .

You're feeling icky and your period is late. Could you be pregnant? Before you rush to the nearest drug store to pick up your pregnancy test, check and see if you have any of the early signs of pregnancy. These include a missed period, spotting (or what appears to be a very light period), feeling queasy, tender or swollen breasts, fatigue, needing to pee more often, feeling bloated, and being moody. You may not have all these symptoms, but you are most likely going to experience at least one.

As your pregnancy progresses, you can also experience more unpleasant symptoms-such as nausea, vomiting, and back aches.

Symptoms vary for different women, but it is important to recognize the signs of pregnancy so you can mentally prepare yourself for this huge responsibility.

. . . Prenatal Care . . .

Prenatal care is essential to the health of you and your baby. Throughout your pregnancy, be sure to have regular appointments with your doctor or healthcare provider. These visits will allow your doctor to keep a close eye on your health as well as the baby and his/her development. Although pregnancy and childbirth are a natural part of life, problems and complications can happen so it's important to get prenatal care as soon as you know you are pregnant

In addition to access to medical care, these prenatal visits give you a forum to ask questions and advice about the change that your body will be going through as your baby grows. You will also be able to gather important information to make informed choices.

Prenatal care is more than a doctor's visit. You can also get access to education on the process of pregnancy and childbirth, counseling services and support that you may need. Also use these visits to talk with your doctor about your birth plan.

. . .Nutrition during Pregnancy. . .

Healthy Diet
Maintaining a well-balanced diet is important during pregnancy. To meet the demands of your growing baby, you have to pay attention to your nutrition and the foods that you consume. As the old saying goes, you are eating for two! Your diet should include a combination of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and fat. These will fuel your body, make you feel better, and nourish your growing baby.

Though you are "eating for two," be careful not to eat twice your normal amount. You only need to add about 300 extra calories to your regular diet. (Moms carrying twins and multiples should add 300 additional calories for each baby they're carrying.)

In addition to eating a balanced diet, you will want to make sure that you get enough vitamins and minerals in your daily diet. You can easily do this by taking a prenatal vitamin supplement. Check out our nutrition articles below to help you understand about pregnancy nutrition.

Pregnancy also brings on food cravings in some women. Most often, giving into your cravings isn't harmful. It only causes problems when you eat too much of one thing and abandon the rest of your diet.

As you become more pregnant, your body changes to adjust to your growing baby. As a result, some women can suffer from body-image issues. Be sure to consult your doctor or get counseling to help you deal with these issues. Pregnancy is not a time to diet or worry about losing weight.

Losing weight during pregnancy can be detrimental to the health and safety of your baby, because it deprives him or her of the proper vitamins and nutrients required for normal fetal development. If you're worried about your weight, just keep in mind that you will lose weight after your baby is born.

To ensure that you have an easy labor and delivery, you will want to gain for the recommended weight gain fro your pre-pregnancy size. For average-sized women, they should aim to gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy. You can easily keep in this weight limit by eating a healthy and balanced diet.

Vitamins & Minerals
In addition to eating healthy food, many women should take prenatal vitamins to make sure that they get enough nutrition in their diet. Certain vitamins are very important for your baby's growth - such as folic acid, iron, and calcium.

Both iron and folic acid aid your body in making the extra blood your body needs to keep you and your baby healthy. Folic acid is probably one of the most important nutrients you need during pregnancy. It reduces your baby's risk of neural tube defects - birth defects that happen due to incomplete development of the spine - and it decreases your chances for vascular problems, like heart disease.

Both iron and folic acid aid your body in making the extra blood your body needs to keep you and your baby healthy. Folic acid is probably one of the most important nutrients you need during pregnancy. It reduces your baby's risk of neural tube defects - birth defects that happen due to incomplete development of the spine - and it decreases your chances for vascular problems, like heart disease.

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