How Pregnancy Forces One to Make Many Lifestyle Changes

Pregnancy is a time in a couple’s life that brings uncontrollable joy. No one expects problems with pregnancy, but it is possible. Taking preventive measures before pregnancy will ensure a healthy start for the mom-to-be.  This often comes with having to make some lifestyle changes before, during and following pregnancy. 

Pregnancy Forces One to Make Many Lifestyle Changes
*This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

As stated earlier, expecting mothers do not what to hear the news that their pregnancy is taking a turn for the worse. With little to no fault of the mom, some medical conditions can cause a problematic pregnancy. This article will discuss lifestyle changes to help minimize any problems that can occur. But first, let us explore the type of complications that pregnancy can present for couples.

Complications in Pregnancy

    • Miscarriages. The reason for a miscarriage is unknown and usually occurs in the first trimester, 13 weeks of pregnancy.
    • Ectopic Pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies occur when the fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterus, causing severe pain.
    • Gestational Diabetes. Gestational diabetes increases blood sugar during pregnancy, putting the mom at a higher risk for diabetes after pregnancy.
    • Incompetent Cervix. The fetus’ growth can cause problems for the cervix, causing the cervix to open and deliver the baby before the due date.
    • Placental Abruption. It occurs when the placenta is partially or completely detaches from the uterus before the baby is born.
    • Low-Lying Placenta. This rare occurrence usually happens in the second or third trimester, causing the placenta to attach to the bottom wall of the uterus.
    • Increase or Decrease in Amniotic Fluid. Amniotic fluid protects the fetus during pregnancy. Too much, although rare, amniotic fluid can cause premature rupture of the amniotic membrane. Whereas not enough fluid can prevent the fetus from developing properly.
    • Preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is presented as high blood pressure and high protein levels in the urine.
    • Premature Labor. Premature labor occurs between 20 weeks but before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Most premature deliveries are spontaneous.
    • Venous Thrombosis. This is when a blood clot develops in the pregnant mom’s leg, usually occurring with women over 30, overweight, and a family history of thrombosis.
    • Molar Pregnancy. Occurs from an abnormality of the placenta. Instead of the embryo forming in the uterus, an abnormal mass takes formation instead.
    • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(FAS). FAS is the excessive use of alcohol during pregnancy, causing physical and mental defects for the fetus.
    • Eclampsia. It is the progression of preeclampsia, attacking the central nervous system causing seizures.

Ways to Get Ready for Third Trimester

As mentioned earlier, pregnancy can present with problems that can be life-threatening. But a healthy pregnancy can have its rewards for mom and dad-to-be. It is crucial to make some lifestyle changes when considering pregnancy.

Meeting with your gynecologist to discuss the dos and don’ts for a healthy pregnancy is an excellent way to initiate healthy lifestyle changes. If your gynecologist does not monitor pregnancy, this is also an opportunity to discuss recommendations for an obstetrician.

Pregnancy Lifestyle Changes

    • Healthy Weight. Being at a healthy weight before pregnancy helps to eliminate any complications that may occur. Consider losing weight if you are obese or overweight. The added weight can cause problems during pregnancy.
    • Diet Change. There is nothing wrong with indulging in your favorite foods. The key is to eat more fruits, vegetables, foods high in iron, calcium, and fiber, dark leafy greens, asparagus, seafood such as salmon, shrimp, and catfish. Eat smaller portions at least 5 – 6 times a day and never skip breakfast.
    • Use Prenatal Vitamins. Prenatal vitamins have nutrients critical for the baby’s neural tube growth. They also help to create new blood cells.
    • Exercise. There are many benefits to exercising while pregnant. One is aiding in preparation for your pelvic floor for delivery and recovery. Exercising also helps to boost your mental health during pregnancy while staying in shape.
    • Remove Alcohol, Cigarette, and Caffeine Intake. Sorry coffee lovers, but limiting caffeine during pregnancy to 200 mg per day should be considered. Avoiding alcohol and cigarettes is recommended during pregnancy.
    • Stress Management. Cortisol is released when you are experiencing a stressful moment. To help minimize stress, try using essential oils, candles, meditation, yoga, or simply talking to someone.
    • Understand Chronic Medical Conditions. Understanding chronic conditions can help you have a healthy pregnancy. Some chronic diseases are inherited, but with the proper management from your obstetrician and primary care provider, you can still have a safe and healthy pregnancy.

8 Pregnancy Diet Tips for Growing a Healthy Baby

Who says you cannot be stylish before, during, or after pregnancy? During pregnancy, you are engulfed with many emotions, some good, some not so good. Everyone can use a pick-me-up moment with a little bit of shopping. With various styles offered, Fawn Design provides stylish diaper bag collections, motherhood bundles, satchels, original and mini diaper bags to choose from that will have heads turning.

Since no one can foresee the future, planning a healthy pregnancy will help ease any concerns. Including your healthcare providers in your decision can provide you with the necessary advice needed to ensure both mom and baby will be off to a healthy start because this will be the beginning of a beautiful and unbreakable relationship for years to come.


Author’s Bio

Gemma Hamilton is a marketing enthusiast who enjoys spending time with her family and friends by visiting various natural landscapes and hanging out on beautiful beaches. Besides nature-tripping, she’s also very passionate about writing quality content for Fawn Design, which helps build professional relationships with people and share informative insights to various audiences interested in different types of topics. 

 

Pregnancy Self Care Tips That Will Benefit Mom and Baby

Practicing self care during pregnancy can benefit moms as well as their growing babies.

Expectant mothers have a lot on their minds, in addition to making it through the discomforts and excitement of pregnancy.  These pregnancy self care tips are something all moms can try in order to ease symptoms of prenatal depression, anxiety, stress and to ensure a healthy 9 months for both mom and baby. 

Pregnancy Self Care Tips That Will Benefit Mom and Baby
*This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate and/or paid links. Furthermore, I am not a medical professional and nothing in this post should be taken as medical advice.  Always speak to your doctor before implementing any changes to your normal routine during pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a time of massive change in a woman’s life, and becoming a mom brings the most significant life transformation ever. Society tells us that pregnancy is a magical time, and while this is true, it is also a time of many other emotions too.

Many women can feel overwhelmed by the prospect of their impending arrival and may feel anxious about what they will experience as life as a parent. With such a life-changing moment just around the corner, it can help to put some self-care habits into place to help you feel as prepared as possible for your new baby’s arrival, and to make the rest of your pregnancy as relaxed as it can be.  As soon as you find out that you are expecting, subscribe for monthly Bump Boxes to make your pregnancy go smoothly.

Nutrition

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is of course always important, but doing so in pregnancy can feel like a challenge if you are suffering from morning sickness, or worse still, hyperemesis gravidarum. Trying to eat a diet which is as healthy as it can be is not only a great way to keep yourself feeling good but could also keep your baby healthier in the future too. 

According to the Early Life Nutrition Coalition, the First 1000 Days are a crucial time, where your diet can impact on the chances of your child becoming obese in the future, and can also affect them having allergies. What you eat at the preconception stage and throughout pregnancy is worth considering carefully to get your child off to the best start in life.

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Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a powerful tool to use in life in general but can come in especially handy during pregnancy and your life as a parent. Mindfulness is all about bringing your attention to the present moment and letting your thoughts come and go. With regular practice, mindfulness becomes second nature for use at times of anxiety and stress.

Keeping calm, and practicing mindfulness should help you from worrying about future scenarios, and past events, enabling you to focus on the here and now, and yourself and your baby.

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Gentle Exercise

During pregnancy, you will probably need to change your existing exercise routine if it could be unsafe to follow during your pregnancy. Although you may have to put your usual routine on hold for a little while, you can try out some completely different activities instead, which will provide you with some gentle exercise.

Pregnancy yoga is a popular choice of exercise, which is no surprise as it offers many reputed benefits. Pregnancy yoga enables you to focus on your growing baby without all the interruptions of everyday life to disturb you. Your yoga session should fit well with your mindfulness practice, meaning that you can relax and exercise all at the same time, which should leave you feeling much calmer after the session. Joining a pregnancy yoga class is also great for making friends with other local expectant moms, and if you keep in touch, your baby will have a ready-made friendship group as soon as they are born!

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All women experience pregnancy differently but one thing remains the same.  It’s a time to prepare for the changes ahead.  Once baby arrives, life will become significantly different.  Taking the time to focus on yourself now, means that baby will also benefit from your peaceful state.  Using some of these pregnancy self care tips will give you a head start for maintaining your self care routine once you’re juggling the demands of a newborn baby.