There is a lot of information available about what is safe and unsafe to do while pregnant. The conflicting information can often cause a lot of anxiety for new mothers-to-be. While it’s always best to follow your doctor’s advice, there are some common pregnancy misconceptions and mistakes that moms should try to avoid doing.
This guest post by JOJO from Check Pregnancy highlights some information that is important for pregnant women to focus on.
The subject of pregnancy is one that is surrounded by misconceptions and mistakes. From questions about the effects of pre-cum pregnancy, STDs, feeding and medication during pregnancy, to antenatal visits – lots of confusion exists. In addition to the top 4 questions about pre-cum pregnancy, here are some other helps to common mistakes surrounding pregnancy.
Eating For Two
The daily calorie requirement of women is between 1800 and 2000 calories, however, babies only need about 300 calories. So, taking in double the adult calorie requirement is not needed for the baby to grow and develop.
On the contrary, what the baby needs is proper nutrition. Taking in too much calories will lead to excess weight which can increase the risk of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and the probability of needing a C-section.
Women who eat too much food during pregnancy are encouraged to check their diet and stick to fruits, green and raw vegetables, nuts and eggs. Be hydrated and eat balanced meals during the day.
Self-Medication
Pregnant women are advised to stay away from paracetamol, antacids and acne creams. Self-medication and over-the-counter medicines can be harmful to the health of the mother and the baby. The baby may develop congenital abnormalities. Only take pills and medicine recommended by your doctor.
Sleep
Sacrificing sleep during pregnancy to achieve work-life balance is detrimental to the health of you and your baby. The changes that the body undergoes (physical and hormonal) usually require that the you get more sleep.
The less you sleep, the more fatigued you get during pregnancy. Losing sleep also has a cumulative effect on the ability of the body to handle the strain of labor and delivery. Additionally, exercise helps prepare the body for the labor and delivery process.
Endeavor to get enough sleep, while also avoiding oversleeping. The effect of oversleeping is that it makes the body desire more sleep, which can cause problems post-delivery when the baby’s sleep cycle is erratic.
Waiting to Talk to Baby
Experts recommend that mothers bond with their babies by talking to the baby-bump. Do no wait for the baby to kick till you place your hands on your belly and speak to it while gently caressing it. The activity stimulates the baby’s senses. As soon as you find out that you are expecting, subscribe for monthly Bump Boxes to make your pregnancy go smoothly.
Indulging in Comfort foods
Avoiding sweet intake and sugary treats reduces your chance of gestational diabetes and other related problems. Sugary foods can increase anxiety levels and affect the well-being of the baby. Those extra bars of chocolate and spicy fried foods are harmful. Stay away from them.
Failing to Exercise
One of the major pregnancy misconceptions is that expectant mothers shouldn’t exercise. There will always be a million reasons not to exercise, especially when you are pregnant. After all, it’s nice to just sit back and relax. Some would say that activities such as taking the stairs, daily commute, doing household chores already constitute enough exercises.
However, engaging in more deliberate exercise (especially when they are routine) helps boost circulation, combat stress, help in fetal growth, and prepare the body for labor and pregnancy.
It is recommended that you start exercising in the early days of pregnancy and discuss your exercise plan with your doctor so that they can recommend how best to go about it. Avoid drastic exercise routines or new challenges during pregnancy as they could be counterproductive.
JOJO Yang is a writer from Check Pregnancy, her passion is providing helpful information for mommy and baby’s health. More than just focus on basic knowledge about health, this website also focuses on how to establish a good parent-child relationship. You can also find some fun reviews and topics, just visit Check Pregnancy to see more. You can check the new posts on Facebook: @Checkpregnancy.com
