The best way to ensure a healthy pregnancy is to ensure that you are being healthy as well. You will want to ensure that your lifestyle, diet and body are in shape to carry and deliver a baby.
Birth Control
There are many forms of birth control available today. The primary types of birth control are mechanical and hormonal. A mechanical birth control device prevents the biological mechanisms which lead to pregnancy from occurring. Condoms or diaphragms are good examples. Another major category of birth control methods is hormonal birth control. These methods modify or interrupt the hormonal cycles of women in order to prevent pregnancy from occurring.
First Signs of Pregnancy
There are many different telltale signs your body will give you that you are carrying a baby.
One of the first symptoms of early pregnancy includes tender, swollen breasts. Your breasts may become painful to the touch because the hormones estrogen and progesterone are starting to go into overtime and are more apparent. They are developing the breast tissue further in order to produce milk. Darkening areolas are also a signal that you may be pregnant. Your nipples may become larger in diameter and tiny bumps may seem more visible than before. These tiny bumps are oil producing glands that help to lubricate your nipples. You may also feel exhausted. Sudden fatigue is a symptom of the pregnancy hormones at work again, using tons of energy to build the placenta. Nausea is another common sign of early pregnancy. It is officially known as morning sickness, but it can actually strike at any time of the day. Pregnancy also comes with a heightened sense of smell. This can make once loved scents overpowering. Spotting which is also known as implantation bleeding can occur around 5 to 10 days after conception. This means that the newly formed embryo is burrowing into the uterine lining. Frequent urination is also an early sign of pregnancy because the pregnancy hormone is increasing blood flow to the kidneys. Bloating is another common sign of pregnancy and can occur due to the hormone progesterone. It helps to slow down digestion which allows more nutrients from the foods you eat to reach the fetus.
Weeks 1-13
In this trimester you can expect new aches, tender breasts, food cravings and aversions to foods you might have once loved. You may also feel nauseous, bloated and your energy zapped. This will help to ensure that you are physically healthy and can grant peace of mind of what will occur in your pregnancy.
Click here to learn more about what to expect in the first trimester.
Weeks 14-27
At this point you will have a baby bump so it is no longer just bloating. Many of your early pregnancy symptoms will be gone, and instead of having zero energy you will have a lot more. New symptoms that will arise include heartburn and mood swings. This is a good time to try some pregnancy friendly workouts in order to maintain a healthy body weight for you and baby.
Weeks 28 - 40
Your belly is growing and your baby is busy packing on the pounds. Your metabolism is in overdrive so you may feel hot and sweaty. Your sleep patterns may be thrown off as well due to being uncomfortable with body aches. You must make sure you are taking care of yourself and not overdoing things because once baby comes you are going to need all of the energy you can get.
Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are extremely important for expecting women or women who hope to be expecting soon to incorporate into their daily diet. These vitamins help to boost the body's immune system and provide the proper nutrients for the mother, which will in turn be given to the baby in the womb. A healthy and balanced diet is also very important to ensure that the baby and mother are getting the right nutrients throughout the pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins contain higher amount of iron and folic acid which both assist in the development of a healthy baby by helping to prevent birth defects, low birth weight, and provide the right amount of red blood cells. Although some expectant mothers may feel nauseas after taking prenatal vitamins, the benefits far outweigh this as they provide the right nutrients for mother and baby.
To ensure a healthy pregnancy make sure to take prenatal vitamins and have an open dialogue with your healthcare provider. This will help to ensure that you are physically healthy and can peace of mind of what will occur in your pregnancy.
