How to Spend Second Trimester of Pregnancy?

Second Trimester Mama Baby CareSecond Trimester Mama Baby Care

As discussed earlier, the first three months of pregnancy are called the first trimester of pregnancy that last till 1st to 12th week of pregnancy, then comes the second trimester that last till 27th week.

In the beginning when a woman gets to know about pregnancy, everything seems beautiful yet confusing. When hormones start taking control of your body in the first trimester, that beautiful life seems a little difficult to deal with. But changes in the second trimester are way more than the first. Many women claim that the second trimester is way more difficult as compared to the first one.

The reason is, in the first trimester, only hormonal changes occur and some functional changes like lots of peeing, nausea, bleeding etc. Whereas, many of them also say that the first trimester seems hard to handle in terms of unexpected changes. But if we talk about the second trimester, this brings about physical changes as well which is all natural to for example heavy belly and breasts.

Remember that the size continues to grow big in number every passing month during pregnancy. Many women fear this change because of fitness consciousness and question themselves that will they ever be able to get back in shape?! A lot of women do manage to get back in the shape as they were by having a proper diet post pregnancy and routine work-out.

So let’s move on to get to know more about your child in the second trimester. Your child has now grown big in your belly – and it’s kinda visible too 😉 The human that is growing in your belly will be about 13 to 16 inches long in size and will weigh about 2 to 3 pounds by the end of the second trimester. The most awaited moment will be witnessed when you will feel your baby kicking inside. By the end of the second trimester, the baby will be able to kick, move and turn side to side.

Strictly following all the precautions been taught in the previous article about first trimester, what else should be done will be explained here:

A guide to the second trimester of Pregnancy:

As discussed above, the second trimester of pregnancy comes with major changes that are unignorably visible, some of the major changes are

  1. Growth in the size of belly carried by growth in the uterus as it is natural to expand by the time
  2. Muscle ache which is due to deficiency of some vitamins and dehydration
  3. Leg cramps due to low blood circulation in the leg as the uterus expands and some nerves are unable to work properly
  4. Body seems to swell, mostly from ankles and arms but if things get out of normal boundary, call your doctor
  5. Weight scale meter goes uncontrollably high
  6. Constant increase in the size of breast followed by darkening of skin around your nipples
  7. Stretch marks starts to appear in the growing areas like your belly, breasts, thighs

All these changes might sound horrible but in reality it’s what a woman has to go through and it’s not at all ugly! The transformation that takes place during these months is as beautiful as watching your baby grow 🙂

Things that should be avoided during pregnancy – Specially Second Trimester:

How to move towards Healthy and Safe Delivery Tip 1:

Do not Fear your Physical Growth

Growing a human is not easy! Never fear any change in your body or physical appearance because you are beautiful in any shape in any form. Always remember the reward you will get after these 9 months of struggle

How to move towards Healthy and Safe Delivery Tip 2:

Prenatal Check-ups

After the end of first trimester and start of second, visit to your doctor should be frequent. To get to know about your baby’s health and wellbeing in your womb. To ensure your own health as well. At this stage, your first ultrasound is done and screening of baby for unfortunate genetic faults is observed.

How to move towards Healthy and Safe Delivery Tip 3:

Dental Health is a Must

During this phase, try to keep your dental health i.e your teeth and gums clean and healthy to avoid premature delivery.

How to move towards Healthy and Safe Delivery Tip 4:

Need to Revise your Diet Plan:

At this stage your diet must contain fibers, proteins and calories at a certain level. The under-cooked food should be avoided to prevent diseases that are caused from under-cooked food because some of these food items contain infectious particles if not cooked well for instance, raw meat. Keep the intake of folic acid and vitamins as it was from the start.

How to move towards Healthy and Safe Delivery Tip 4:

Prepare yourself for Birth

This is a good time to join clubs that provide Mom-To-Be education. One must also join groups of training that offer training to new parents about how to carry your child, how to feed your child, how to understand your child’s hidden messages.

How to move towards Healthy and Safe Delivery Tip 5:

Avoid Sex

Second trimester gets harder every passing day with a lot of things to avoid, first you strictly avoid your favorite fast food from your favorite cafe, and then you avoid caffeine and everything you still love. But also your partner? Wait!! Is that any trick or something? But the answer is yesses. You have to avoid sex, sad news! But it’s worth avoiding for.

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Pregnancy Guidelines: Manage your Weight, Take Healthy Diet!

Pregnancy Guidelines Mama Baby CarePregnancy Guidelines Mama Baby Care

For woman pregnancy is the most beautiful feeling as well as the most exciting time. In these all sentiments, a woman forgets to take care of the diet that keep them healthy and the baby growing inside them also. This time the utmost consideration should be a healthy diet. All you need to do is follow a healthy eating routine, keep yourself busy in physical activities and choose the healthy lifestyle, at the time of pregnancy and after the birth of the baby.

There are plenty of ways through which you can control your weight and support the pregnancy time. Moreover, these measures are also helpful if you are planning to have a baby. If you completely change your lifestyle now, you will surely get new habits.

During pregnancy, many women gain weight around 11 to 16 kilograms and most gain 1 to 2 kilograms. The weight you are putting-on in this time period just depends on the situation.

  • Considering the pre-pregnancy weight, overweight women must not gain more than 7 to 11 kilograms.
  • Underweight women should put-on more than 13 to 18 kilograms.
  • The women expecting twins should gain weight in between 17 to 25 kilograms.

The diet full of nutrition followed by a routinely based exercise lead to a happy and healthful pregnancy duration. At that time, women should take the following amount of calories per day;

  • 1st Trimester: 1.800 calories
  • 2nd Trimester: 2,200 calories
  • 3rd Trimester: 2,400 calories

How you can manage Weight during Pregnancy

There are different cases in which women gain weight. Some of the women are overweight already and they gain more during their pregnancy. In the other case many women put-on weight since the beginning very quickly and on the other hand, some do not need any proper diet plan to lose weight. The increase of weight during this phase totally depends upon the vulnerability and density of the body. There are women who gain weight and after birth get their body shape back.

All and all, the thing you need to consider is your diet. This could only be managed easily by following the healthy diet and keeping yourself active all day. But, there are situations, if you are not gaining the enough amount of weight, take this seriously and consult with your specialist, God forbidden you and your baby might be facing some issues. Again, by changing your routine and diet you can easily cope up with these issues which actually happens in this duration.

Here are some tips that would surely help you out in planning some good routine.

Physical Activities:

  • For pregnant women, the effective and safe exercises are swimming and walking. These two things will keep you lively and active.
  • If you want to burn calories, follow the recommendations of your consultant and add moderate exercises in your routine.
  • Before adding any physical activity in your routine, discuss it with your consultant first.

Diet to Choose:

  • Take crackers, cereals and breads comes out of whole grain.
  • Add some fruits and vegetables to your diet. Eat them as snacks. Veggies and fruits are jam-packed with vitamins and contains low fat and calories.
  • Try to take dairy products with reduced-fat. Each day, you should take 4 servings of milk products. You can only reduce the amount of fat and calories by using skin 1% or 2% milk. Moreover, taking yogurt and cheese of low-fat can also help in reducing fat.

Foods to Escape:

  • The foods and drinks that contains artificial sugar is harmful, whereas, naturally sweetened foods are far better.
  • Foods and drinks containing corn syrup in the ingredients must be avoided.
  • Fruit drinks and soda have high amount of calories and sugar, read the labels first before going for it. Instead choose water over these drinks.
  • These days fats are not good for health, while you are choosing your diet go for the foods that are low in fat. Avoiding fat in this condition is necessary. Cooking oils, lard, gravy, butter, daily salad dressings, sour cream, mayonnaise and cream cheese contains high amount of fat.
  • Junk-food is actually the spoiler of healthy lifestyle. Try not to take chips, cookies, ice-cream, cakes, etc. You can only get rid of the junk food if you do not have it in your home.

Prepare the Food at Home:

  • Planning out the best diet will keep you in shape. So as fat is not healthful, cook your food at home using the low-fat cooking recipes.
  • The fat of the meal can be increased by frying the food in butter and oil. Avoiding fried food is mandatory to keep the calories in balance.
  • Follow the low-fat approaches of cooking. Grilling, boiling, baking and broiling is good for you.

Dining Out:

  • When you are aware of what amount of fat, calories and salt to take you can easily decide what would be a healthier meal for you.
  • While you are craving to eat out, many of the restaurants have nutrition filled facts in their menu, go for them and choose the best meal for yourself.
  • Fast food is not good for your health these days. So avoid taking fast food.
  • Salads, vegetables and soups are the essentials for a good diet plans. Pick the restaurants that offers these nutritional food.

Shape your Body Take during Pregnancy

There is nothing horrible if you gain weight and have already struggled in managing your body shape in the past before pregnancy. It might be a little hard for you to accept gaining weight again, but there is nothing to get worried about if you are following the proper diet plan.

In healthy pregnancy weight gain is normal, however the extra amount of Kgs you gain will reveal after you give birth to your baby. If your body is gaining weight more than normal, then probably your baby will be weighty too. Most of the time, this created difficulties at the time of delivery. So if you are expecting a healthy pregnancy always go for the best diet and perfect exercises. If you are healthy so your baby will be. Do not compromise over anything follow the instructions of your consultant in the proper way.

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Postpartum Guide: How to go through the 1st Week of Recovery Process

postpartum-care Mama Baby Carepostpartum-care Mama Baby Care

Once the good news strikes to your hearts, the amazing feelings takes you to the sky. All of the focus diverts to the joy-full moments of life and the time of the birth. So, as you step in the beautiful time of your life you starts to enjoy every phase. Despite, this is the hardest time, but the excitement of having a baby in the lap take every worry away. The congratulations coming around everywhere brings a different glow. Being officially a mother is all a girl wait once she gets married.

Spending 40 weeks and more, raising your baby in your abdomen and taking care of your every act is actually what all you need to do. This time-period brings lots of changes in your body and that leads to the postpartum. The period of postpartum starts 6 weeks after giving the birth to the baby. With the emotional and physical changes and experiences your body go through, it takes time to recover and get to the normal. Which is in-terms known as the postpartum healing.

The postpartum transition brings different symptoms which ideally you should know before the birth. The post-delivery check-ups from your doctor make you realize what to avoid and what to follow in order to recover early.

Your doctor, family members, friends as well as the people on the streets give you hundreds of advices about delivery and how to take care of your baby after birth. But fact fully, people pay a little attention about the postpartum healing. According to the research, few new mothers put attention and prepared for the postpartum experience and others survive the period.

Here is the week-by-week guide to recovery process and to overcome the postpartum period rapidly to have the normal body shape.  

Pay Enough Attention to 1st Week of Postpartum

The first week of the postpartum is the toughest to handle, from the adjustment and recovery it is hard to decide how to get normal. As you have just give birth and along that taking care of your baby. Moreover, with the busy schedule you are experiencing the vaginal tearing and other after delivery problems. The discomforts and sleepless nights take you to mood changes that you need to handle as you have a little baby who needs all of your attention and love.

If you have delivered your baby through C-section obviously you have the intense stitches and have to recover from the surgery also. As your body experiences different levels and hormonal changes and at that time it is preparing for the breastfeeding, the organs should move back to the place as soon as it can.

Child-rearing                                                            

Before you go home, you spend one or two nights (or more depending on the condition) in the hospital. It might be a little terrifying for you to take your baby home with the new responsibilities and no chance of blunders. Things not go as we planned and that normal. You have already read all of the parenting books as you entered child-rearing. But still there are questions that are continuously confusing you, this is normal and happens with everyone.

Taking care of the new born baby is challenging, their needs are so simple but they could be confusing in the beginning. Taking them to sleep, feeding them, bathing, changing diaper and managing the schedule could be harder than it hums. At that time, just be patient and flexible. Don’t get panic and relax. Set a routine of your baby as per your flexibility, believe in yourself and don’t get stress over little things.

Nursing

Many people have already inform you that breastfeeding is quite difficult which leads to leaving the new moms in tears. Well, nursing is initially challenging, and the woes are common among women. Most of the times they last for few days. Breastfeeding is painful and frustrating, but despite you cannot discourage it. There are some nursing advices to follow, take a good nursing pillow, or the ointment for nipples brings lots of easiness and difference in your life.

Take advices from your lactation or consultant. Or you can take suggestions from the other breastfeeding moms. On a regular routine, take bath, drink more water, sleep well and keep nourishing your body and your baby as well.

Uterine Pain

After you give birth to your baby, your uterine gain 2.5 pounds of weight. The uterine cramps are really painful, but these pains occurs for the good purpose. The pains reduces the uterine size to normal by 6 weeks postpartum, they reduces by 6 ounce.

You will observe that your pains are getting worse at the time of breastfeeding, which is due to the release of oxytocin which supports the contraction of the uterine.

Breast Changes

In the initial stages of postpartum, your breast will get filled with the milk. Along with the changes women experience the discomfort in both the cases, engorgement and extra milk coming in.

It is important to take out the extra milt through massage or pumping. Another way to get relieve is place the cabbage leaves in the bra which for sure decreases the discomfort and engorgement.

C-section Recovery

C-section is the severe abdominal surgery, which should not be ignored. Try to take much rest, though it is challenging with the new born. After the surgery, follow the wound care instruction give to you by your doctor. Clean the incision and avoid putting pressure on the stitches. When the epidural come to an end and you get conscious, you will experience extreme shivering and pains, the medication would help here. Routinely take your medicines, and take scheduled visits.

Weight Loss

It is totally normal to gain after you give birth to your baby. The uterus takes time to get the normal size, moreover your skin has stretched as well. After birth you have already lose weight around 10 to 15 pounds, which includes the weight of your baby, placenta and amniotic fluid. But still you look double which is normal and you should not get worried about it. Over the next coming weeks, you will lose the extra fluid of your body, and the shedding process would be slow and takes time. The postpartum weight loss is based on the healthy routine and diet as well as the breastfeeding also help to lose the extra Kgs.

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How to cope up with the Symptoms of Pregnancy

Symptoms of Pregnancy Mama Baby CareSymptoms of Pregnancy Mama Baby Care

God showers countless blessings over His people and birth of a child is one of the most beautiful ones among all His blessings. Getting pregnant brings a huge difference in one’s life. At this very moment mother can feel hundreds of different feelings but most importantly a mother is excited and nervous at the same time. Carrying a life inside your body isn’t easy but it is for sure a unique and life-altering journey.

All mothers would definitely agree that being a mother is the greatest achievement and pleasure of their life. During the whole time period a woman not only changes physically but emotionally as well. This is the time of growth and profound awakening. Sometimes pregnancy can be really tiring and hectic however being aware of the symptoms and their coping methods can be really helpful. Here are some of the ways through which one can easily cope up with pregnancy symptoms. 

Pregnancy Symptoms and Ways to Deal with Them

Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are the symptoms which are experienced by majority of women. People usually call it morning sickness but the worst thing regarding it is it can strike anytime throughout the day and night. A serious form of nausea is known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG).

Tips to cope:

  • If nausea is bad, consult your care provider about prescribed medicines.
  • If nausea is mild, keep a check about the food which seem to work best.
  • Taking a prenatal vitamin at night can also help get rid of sour stomach.
  • Do not over-consume fatty, rich and spicy food.
  • If the smell of food makes you feel uncomfortable, try getting some other alternative.
  • Eat well for yourself and the baby.
  • Never compromise on rest.

Tender Breasts

All credits to pregnancy hormones, tender breasts may be one of the first noticeable symptoms of pregnancy. Sore, tingly nipples and breasts are very common in newly pregnant women. For some women the soreness is a matter of few weeks while other women may experience varying degrees of pain throughout the duration of nine months. Some women are very lucky and never feel any breast sensitvity which is completely normal too.

Tips to cope:

  • Wearing a well-fit maternity bra or supportive bra can help in avoiding discomfort.
  • Ice packs and heating packs can temporarily bring relief to the pain.
  • Take care to avoid knocking your breasts.

Fatigue

Another symptom caused during those amazing but sometimes pesky period of pregnancy is fatigue. You can feel overly tired even if you have done nothing the entire day and can take nap anytime, anywhere. It is very common especially during the first trimester and for majority of women it can be the very first symptom of pregnancy. It can turn your daily tasks into feeling like you are running a marathon race.

Tips to cope:

  • Head to bed earlier than usual and minus all extra activities from your schedule.
  • Take a quick power nap.
  • Take a short walk and make time in your day to do some gentle exercise.
  • Stay hydrated because dehydration can cause extra fatigue.
  • A little amount of coffee (200 milligrams) is good for quick pick up as the mentioned amount is safe during pregnancy.

Frequent Urination

You can get really tired of peeing all the time and this starts from the first trimester and come back as a counterstroke in the third. It increases by the time as the uterus and baby grows, putting all pressure on the bladder.

Tips to cope:

  • Unfortunately there is nothing to reduce this symptom. Only peeing before you leave for anywhere and going to the washrooms when you need to go can help.
  • Do not limit your intake of fluids.

Constipation

A lot of hormonal misbalances take place in a soon to be mama’s body during the whole pregnancy period. Progesterone – a hormone which plays important role in pregnancy. When its level increases during pregnancy most women feel delayed contractions in the abdominal area which may cause constipation.

Tips to cope:

  • Keep yourself hydrated. You may add healthy herbs and fruits to make your drink tasty.
  • Eat fruits and vegetable with higher level of water content in them. Such as cucumber etc.
  • Increase intake of fibrous food. Such as banana, oranges, and whole grain bread etc.
  • You may ring your doctor in case of severe constipation.

Hyperosmia

Thanks to pregnancy hormones, most women feel sensitivity to smell and food aversions during pregnancy. This can cause headache, nausea and vomiting during first trimester.

Tips to cope:

  • Avoid places with strong and pungent smells.
  • Keep clean
  • Smell only good stuff
  • Eat and cook only those things whose smell you can bear.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

You experience feel cramps as your uterus lining begins to change and grow. They are often harmless contractions which are usually felt at the end of second trimester or in third trimester. You may call it “uterus’ way of practicing labor”.

Tips to cope:

  • Rest, warm-bath, heating pad, exercise or having an organism can help in reducing cramps.
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Notify your doctor in case of severe contractions.

Mood Swings

As a result of plenty of changes in the body, several mood swings occur. If you are having unusual spells of weeping and crying, it could just be a hormonal change. Sudden mood changes are quite noticeable yet annoying symptom.

Tips to cope:

  • Treat yourself good.
  • Allow yourself to feel and be patient.
  • Talk to someone who understands you and let them comfort you.
  • There is not a lot you can do to avoid mood swings.

Dizziness and Fainting

It is mostly common in first trimester but can happen anytime during the entire pregnancy duration. It mainly happens due to major changes in blood volume. Low blood sugar can also be a reason.

Tips to cope:

  • Get some air and sit down.
  • Keep small carb snacks if you have blood sugar problems.
  • Don’t go too long in between your meals.
  • Drink plenty of water and juices.

Heartburn

Heartburn during pregnancy indicates the increase of progesterone. According to a tale, heartburn is caused when the woman is carrying a baby with a head full of hair.

Tips to cope:

  • Steer clear of acidic foods
  • Do not lie down right after having a meal.
  • Call on your health provider if you feel anything severe.

Backache

During pregnancy ligaments become taut and long. Crams and these ligaments changes can cause severe back pain.

Tips to cope:

  • Avoid wearing heels and prefer flats instead.
  • Practice good posture
  • Get massages.
  • Include a healthy physical activity in your daily routine.

These are the most common symptoms experienced by pregnant women. Above mentioned ways to cope up with pregnancy symptoms can help to self-soothe expecting women. If you are still in doubt regarding any information, call on your health provider or midwife at your earliest.

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Fruits and Veggies for a Healthy Pregnancy

Fruits and Veggies Mama Baby CareFruits and Veggies Mama Baby Care

Healthy diet is the most important part of our life. For every person out there, a diet that is balanced with nutrients, calories, carbs, proteins and fat is as important as breathing.

Everyone out there is feeding on the hazardous food which has now become very common that people don’t give a damn about it, even though they get sick and catch numerous diseases just by having an unhealthy, poor diet. Those who think about it take steps to keep themselves far from these things. However a balance-diet would work for all of us.

When it comes to pregnancy, or should we say healthy and safe pregnancy, a healthy diet plays an important role. Although there are these cravings you wouldn’t help but cry for it. Avoiding such harmful cravings is all you can do to avoid complications in near future. Selection of fruits and vegetables is the first step that could be done with lots of research and consultation. Most women hire a dietitian for themselves when pregnant but it’s not necessary, your good research would do.

So let’s talk about fruits first, which fruit to eat and avoid, how much to consume, what are the health benefits of fruits which you should opt. So the fruits that are good for mom-to-be and the baby are:

How much fruits should be eaten during pregnancy?

According to the doctors and researchers, the amount of fruits that should be eaten while you’re pregnant is 2 to 4 servings per day. The limitation of fruits is just because it contains an excessive amount of sugar which could be harmful if consumed more than it should.

For better understanding, one serving of fruits is equal to one cup of fruits.

Which fruits should be eaten during pregnancy?

There are a number of fruits available in the supermarket that would enlighten your mood by just having a look at it, colorful, fresh, rich in vitamins, ready to make your life healthy!! Although there you won’t find some fruits that are off seasoning but no worries! Tin packed fruits are here to save your day!

The list of fruits you can eat without any second thought:

  1. Apples

Apples are rich in calcium and good to fulfill your body’s calcium intake in a sweet and juicy way. The juice filled fruit will also cater to the need of water in the body as it contains lots of juice which may also aid in digestion and loo. Apples may also help to counter strike many diseases which may appear in pregnancy.

  1. Oranges

Oranges are rich in vitamin B6 and folic acid. As it is recommended to strictly keep the intake of folic acid from the first trimester of pregnancy, oranges will add on it. This fruit will help your baby’s brain development and fight against germs that can cause neural tube defects. Brain and spinal cord abnormalities are prevented with the help of orange.

  1. Cherries

Even in our normal days, cherries are the best fruit to provide major vitamins and minerals to the body. If we talk about cherries intake in pregnancy, there could be no replacement for it. Cherries help the blood flow to the placenta and ease the process of nourishment and oxygen intake for the baby. But the sad part is, they are only available for a short period of summer.

  1. Bananas

Bananas are a good source of potassium and Calcium. Bananas will help build the bones and the nervous system of your little one. Helps in relieving constipation and maintains blood pressure throughout this difficult time.

  1. Avocados

Avocados are the power bank filled with lots of vitamins C, E and K, fiber, potassium, copper and unsaturated fatty acid which is good for mother’s health and just like oranges, prevents neural tube defects and also helps in building the brain, skin tissues of your baby. Not just this, potassium in avocados is also helpful in relieving leg cramps that are frequent in the third trimester of pregnancy.

  1. Mangoes

Is there anyone out there who doesn’t go crazy just hearing this word? Mangoes are love and for pregnant women these are more than that. Mangoes can provide all necessary nourishment that a woman needs during pregnancy. They are rich in vitamin C and A which helps build your baby’s immune system.

  1. Grapes

Eating grapes during pregnancy may aid keeping your baby away from infections as it contains immune boosting antioxidants. It contains vitamin C and K, fiber, pectin, antioxidants, folate.

  1. Watermelon

The word watermelon itself says water so is there anyone who will deny the fact that watermelon is 90 percent water?! This fruit is all about water so there is no way that you will have water deficiency after munchkin on it.

List of vegetables to eat during pregnancy

Vegetables are considered your main course of the day, unlike fruits. To know which vegetable to take to fulfill your hunger is very important because keeping a healthy diet during pregnancy is crucial.

  1. Broccoli

Broccoli is a good source of fiber, calcium, potassium, folate, lutein, and carotenoids, zeaxanthin, which adds to your healthy vision and maintains blood pressure.

  1. Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin B6 which helps in formation of red blood cells and the other nutrient that is fiber helps in pregnancy issues like constipation and digestion.

  1. Dark Green Leafy Veggies

These green vegetables like spinach, cabbage are a good source of folate, fiber and carotenoids

  1. Beetroot

Beetroot is beneficial for the baby as you must ensure your baby’s health even when you’re pregnant. It helps in the formation of spinal cord and prevents diseases as well. Beetroot being rich in folic acid is the reason that you shouldn’t avoid eating it while you’re pregnant.

Fruits and Vegetables are an excellent and cheap source to get all the nutrients that your baby needs. Not only these fruits and veggies cater your baby with complete nutrients but also help ease some common difficulties of pregnancy. As a mother, only you are responsible to keep your baby safe from any unfortunate side-effect. So stick on to a healthy diet and deliver your baby with complete health and nourishments.

Pregnant women must take all these items listed in this article in order to lead towards a blissful delivery. Also there should be some restrictions for fresh juices, smoothies, canned fruits, because these products are high in sugar.

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First Trimester of Pregnancy – Precautionary Measures to Follow

Pregnancy trimester Mama Baby CarePregnancy trimester Mama Baby Care

Getting pregnant is one of the happiest moments in the life of a woman. All her life, a girl dreams of having an ideal life where there’s a loving and caring husband and two kids- a girl and a boy – running around in the garden at the backyard of their house while she makes their favorite sandwiches for them. Time flies like a butterfly, dreams start taking shape of reality and when the time finally comes, she gets what she always wished for, but wait! Is she aware of how to take these nine months down the road to a successful destination?

Some of the teenage girls who just have come out of the nest themselves are not fully aware of how to carry their little birds with all the precautionary measures and extra care in their wombs. Not everyone is lucky enough to have someone who would explain them about all dos and don’ts. For their relief, we are here with all the information that would be beneficial enough to spend these nine delicate months of pregnancy with good health.

Let’s talk about the beginning when one life starts growing inside your belly and your life starts getting a little changed in the first 3 months i.e 1-12 weeks of pregnancy. The trimester of pregnancy is prone to all the hormonal changes in women’s life. There are many kinds of changes, let’s say; having a heavy heart about anything, nausea and pukes every once in a while and if you are lucky enough, you would make it to the wash basin, cramps and pain in different parts of the body, shortness of breath that causes low stamina, mood swings anytime anywhere, cravings of food from different planets and what not!! No matter how much you get to know these mom-to-be changes, you can’t control them happening with you, it’s all part of the natural process!

How to take good care of yourself? What should be done for precautionary measures during pregnancy? Questions like these should be asked at this stage!

Becoming a mother is so beautiful that you may reflect it from your skin, but in some cases mother seems to be too dull, maybe it’s because of how healthy you are on the inside! At the end of the first trimester, the embryo is now a fetus that is already fully formed. The size of the baby is 10 centimetres/3-4 inches with the weight of 0.5 to 1 ounce. Development of arms, legs, fingers, feet, toes and systems like the circulatory system and urinary system is done, your baby will be able to open and close mouth inside your womb. What a miracle!

Now take notes and don’t stress out. Everything is going to be splendidly fine!

Healthy And Safe Pregnancy Pro Tips:

To carry out pregnancy in a healthy and safe way, the following are the Mom-To-Be pro tips that will lead to healthy and safe delivery of your child

How to spend Healthy and Safe Pregnancy Tip 1:

First things first, all you need to care about at first is about having a healthy lifestyle by eating fruits and vegetables that are good for pregnancy. Eliminating hazardous food that is junk food and high in carbs would contribute to this cause and make you healthy. Do not fall low on any vitamin and keep taking multivitamins from the early stage. Keep taking folic acid during pregnancy or if you are reading this before your pregnancy, start taking it from now. Keep a track of your diet and nutrients by consulting a dietitian. According to the doctors worldwide, a woman must gain an approximate of 2-3kgs of weight in order to have a healthy and fully nourished lifestyle. So pregnant women must eat wisely!

How to spend Healthy and Safe Pregnancy Tip 2:

Always be aware of your medical condition that comprises your blood pressure, weight (BMI), heart rate, etc or any medical deficiency i.e glucose, insulin, blood cells etc. To be well known is always a blessing! Do not forget to visit your doctor every once in a month for a regular check-up.

How to spend Healthy and Safe Pregnancy Tip 3:

Be mobile with your routine, do not just lay in the bed all day, however walk around as much as you can and not feel tired, it may be 20 to 30 minutes per day. Healthy lifestyle is not just about a healthy diet but also a little exercise or workout would be a plus to keep yourself and the baby active.

How to spend Healthy and Safe Pregnancy Tip 4:

Trimester is a delicate period of pregnancy as it sets the base of your coming months, it can show many more changes in your body that would be a bit irritating but have to bear with it. The continuous bleeding will keep you alarmed most of the time but you must visit a doctor if the situation becomes uncertain. Another one is a constant urge to pee, but never hold it and never stop on intake of fluids that will keep you and your little one hydrated.

How to spend Healthy and Safe Pregnancy Tip 5:

Studies have shown that caffeine intake during the months of pregnancy has caused severe damage like miscarriage and other complications, so it’s better to cut down caffeine intake in order to avoid unbearable consequences.

How to spend Healthy and Safe Pregnancy Tip 6:

Do not take the first 3 months for granted in a fun way. Pregnancy is a blessing that doesn’t happen to every woman. Taking physical precautions would do a lot, for example, if hopping on every good news has been your hobby prior to pregnancy, quit that. If smoking has been an addiction, quit that. Always be on guard about your physical moves, even while sitting or bending downwards

How to Spend Healthy and Safe Pregnancy Tip 7:

Do stuff that makes you feel good about yourself and make you a stress free woman. It wouldn’t hurt getting a massage or manicure/pedicure for your own self-care to feel fresh. Do not take stress that could cost you in future, it’s better to be around with people you love to spend time with. When you’re happy, your baby will be happy ultimately. Listen to the stuff that makes you feel alive, be it your favorite song or your favorite speaker. Do whatever makes you feel happy!

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Do’s and Don’ts During Pregnancy

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When you find out you have a blessing or two on the way, getting excited and nervous is the first natural response. From the moment of conception to birth, understanding the changes in your body and mind takes a lot of efforts and patience. With all this on your plate, there are many other guidelines you need to remember while carrying a little bundle of joy!

Pregnancy can be hectic, but you do not want to get stuck into an information overload, and stop yourself from enjoying some of the best days of your life. When you have all the attention, being a little picky is justified. Here are some points you better ask your partner to write down on post-its for you (take all the help you need, future mama!) to have a safer pregnancy.

Do’s For All Three Trimesters

One of the first things new mamas learn about their terms are what not to do. If you are a foodie or loves exercising, some points can be a real bummer but there are more things you can do than you cannot!

  • Stick to the Prescription – We cannot stress this enough, please stick to what your doctor has prescribed, while googling about symptoms and being informed is always a plus point, you never know the whole picture. Also, any old mamas telling you their experience might not know that you are going through a completely different one. Pregnancy is different for all women!
  • Strictly Avoid Exposure To Toxic Solvents – Cleaning solvents that are harsh and have warning specifically written for pregnant women should be avoided at all costs. Pesticides, lead and high mercury content solvents are also prohibited. Make sure you are taking strict measure to steer clear of them.
  • Folic Acid in Abundance – A complete absence of neural tube defects is often a result of good folic acid intake. It is recommended that you start taking it three months prior to the conception but it’s never too later for this. Just keep up with the amount prescribed in your medicines according to the trimester you are in.
  • Iron and Calcium Intake – Healthy bones mean healthy baby! Baby teeth, muscles and bones all need vitamin D and for that you need to increase your average calcium intake. A balanced diet is usually enough to cover for iron and calcium deficiencies but if you have any other complications, do talk about this with your doctor.
  • Safe Travels at All Times – Correct seat belt usage is often neglected as a petty thing, but during pregnancy, it can have a lasting impact. Learn from a pregnancy coach or ask your doctor about the right way of buckling up when in a car or flight. Safe travels is top priority, do not compromise on this.
  • Reduce Stress – Reducing stress decides what type of term you will have. Mindfulness is recommended but many women experience increased anxiety during these times. When you are developing a new bond with your significant other, some uncertainties are bound to come up. Take help from professional and let your baby have a joyful right from conception.
  • Increase Sleep – Aiming for six hours of sound sleep will eventually lead to nine hours a day. Short naps are often very powerful in helping you reduce tension in your body and muscles. Sleep cycles get disturbed when there is so much happening in your body, do not resist the changes, but do keep an active eye on them.
  • Exercise – a must ritual for the to-be mamas, getting up and moving those stiff muscles under the guidance of a coach or trainer are always advised by the doctors. While there are a lot of limitations in this department, it is truly a delight to let loose the knots in your chancing body.

Don’ts for All Three Trimesters

Now coming towards some don’t because as much as you like being the center of attention – it comes with some cons too. Here is a compact bullet list to help you and your partner gather some of the major don’t during your terms.

  • No More Vigorous Activities – Any activity that involves a risk of falling down or bending is not for you! Leave it for someone else and always know that asking for help is way better than regretting being tough in this situation. While you will be staying strong for your baby, keeping your boundaries in front of you will help you.
  • Mercury Balancing – Highly toxic in nature, fish with high mercury content are not safe during pregnancy. Polluted water offers most of these residues, hence boiling water is a safer option. Large marine fish are out of the question during your trimesters. Some of the fish you should be avoiding include, shark, tuna, marlin, orange rough and swordfish.
  • Steer Clear of Heavy Lifting – Again, exercising is very important for proper development of the baby. But anything that increase stress levels in body and mind are not for you. Weights are not going anywhere, you can get back in shape with the help of a coach post-delivery!
  • No Saunas Mamas! – While saunas and hot baths look very tempting during this condition, they are not advised by professionals. Fainting occurs if the temperatures are too high, leading to fetus damage. Hot baths are relaxing for sure, but you can always consult a specialist to guide you with other mindfulness techniques.
  • X-ray, No. – X-rays should be avoided at all costs during a pregnancy, unless there is no other option left and the case is complicated enough already. Safety of the child should be your first priority in all situation (though mamas know it well already!)

These are some of the go-to points, but the list is bigger than these. If you are still confused about some information, try reaching out to your doctor. Happy pregnancy, mama!

  • No Alcohol or Tobacco – A complete avoidance of alcohol is advised by all sane and real doctors. Even if you carry on with small intake of alcohol or tobacco, chances of stillbirth and miscarriage increase drastically. Fetal alcohol syndrome, involving facial abnormalities and negative intellectual development can also occur as a result of negligence.
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