Pregnancy is one of the most crucial phases in a woman’s life and it implores a lot of do’s and do not’s that need to be followed in the most sacrosanct way possible. Following are a few things that must be taken into consideration when you are expecting a baby.
Remember that the baby inside you is dependent upon you for each and every need. And every action of yours, right from a healthy diet to long hours at work, would cast a beneficial or adverse effect on your baby’s growth. Therefore, you must take care of the following things that can be classified majorly as the do’s and do not’s of pregnancy.
Things To Do Include
- Count each bite
Generally, very few women know the exact calorie requirements during a pregnancy phase. You are required to have 55,000 extra calories in order to give birth to a healthy baby. Does it seem too much? Actually, to break it down, it is just 300 extra calories per day and that too in the second and third trimester only. And, this can easily be procured by having just an apple or a glass of toned milk in addition to your existing diet routines. - Adhere strictly to your vitamin supplements
Despite following the diet chart quite religiously, you still need to stick on to the supplements prescribed by your doctor. It is because your body’s needs for the minerals and vitamins get skyrocketed in the first trimester itself. Vitamin B supplement, better known as folic acid, is a must during this phase. It not only helps thwarting birth defects, but also helps in the proper development of your baby’s brain. - Intake of fluids must be adequate
It is very essential for a woman, expecting a baby, to keep taking enough of fluids to ensure smooth carriage of nutrients to the baby along with an expanding blood volume. One can take orange juice, low fat milk, or butter milk depending upon the taste. Water can also substitute these things and that too quite well.
Apart from these, calcium, protein, and iron-rich foods are also a must for the healthy growth of a baby.
With all these suggestions regarding the food, there are also certain don’ts that stand true for every pregnancy in general.
- Say no to seafood as mercury present in almost every fish may cause severe damage to the baby’s nervous system.
- Refrain from excess intake of coffee, tea, colas, and soft cheese to avoid retarded growth.
- Alcohol is a big no for you, as it may lead to irreversible birth defects.
- No more fad diets to be followed hereon, as what a growing baby needs the most is balanced nutrition.
- Guard yourself against gaining too much weight as it may lead to birth complications, and may also result in post pregnancy obesity.
- Do not empty the litter tray of your cat during pregnancy, for it may lead to a parasitic disease called toxoplasmosis. Normally contracted by cat’s feces, this may result in miscarriages or even stillbirth.
Just guard yourself against the said do not’s, and follow the do’s to sail through your pregnancy in a smooth manner.