4 Tips For Having A Healthy Pregnancy

Finding out you're pregnant can be an exciting time in your life. Being able to have a child is a great gift to most families. It's important to take proper care of yourself during this delicate time to help ensure you have a child that doesn't have any serious medical conditions. Knowing specific tips for having a healthier pregnancy is ideal in this situation.

Tip #1: Watch your food intake

It's easy to convince yourself that you may need to eat enough food for two people, but this is simply not the case.  Studies show that you shouldn't eat any more than usual in the first three months of your pregnancy. However, during the second three months, you should increase your caloric intake to an additional 300-350 calories per day.

Additionally, during the last three months before giving birth, you only need to consume 500 more calories on a daily basis.

Tip #2: Find a Gynecologist (GYN)

It's important to make routine visits to your GYN to ensure the health of you and your baby. It's actually a good idea to find the right GYN before getting pregnant.

Listed below are ways this specialist can assist you:

1. Complete prenatal testing that involves doing blood tests, completing a pap smear and checking urine samples.

2. Find any problems early on during the pregnancy and work to find a solution.

3. Prescribe any medications that are necessary and considered safe for you to take during pregnancy.

4. Check the growth of your baby to ensure its health and normalcy.

5. Assist in the delivery of your baby.

Tip #3: Take Prenatal vitamins

It's important for your health and that of your baby to get additional amounts of folic acid and iron in your daily diet. These can be found in prenatal vitamins, and you should consult with your GYN about taking one of these per day.

Tip #4: Avoid smoking

Smoking cigarettes could cause problems during your pregnancy and to your baby. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that smoking can greatly contribute to your child being born prematurely and other birth problems.

Being able to have a healthy baby and minimize the possibility of any pregnancy health problems should be at the foremost of your mind during this time. Be sure to consult with your medical provider to assist you during this special time in your life.

Talk to a center like Pregnancy Center Of Wayne County for more information.