If your period is late and you suspect that you’re pregnant, you are probably overwhelmed with emotions. You’re excited about becoming a mom, nervous about what’s coming in the next nine months, and anxious about making room in your budget for your new family member. Before you get caught up in your plans, take the following steps to promote you and your baby’s health. You might want to consult Guys & St Thomas fertility and maternity care to ensure everything stays on track.
Take a Pregnancy Test
Even if you’ve purchased an at-home pregnancy test from a pharmacist, you should make an appointment for pregnancy testing in Santa Rosa. Having a doctor confirm that you are pregnant allows you to start making concrete plans for your health. It allows your doctor to see if there are any risks at the beginning of your pregnancy.
Adjust Your Diet
Your primary health care provider can give you plenty of diet tips based on your age, lifestyle, and fitness level. However, some dietary restrictions are the same for every woman, and you should make these changes as soon as you think you might be pregnant. Stop all alcoholic beverages immediately. While some research suggests that a small amount of alcohol may not harm your developing baby, it’s too risky to be worth the pleasure of drinking that glass of wine or beer. Reduce your caffeine intake to no more than one cup of coffee a day. Make sure that you consume at least the daily recommendation for each vitamin, especially iron and calcium. According to this dentist who does dental implants in New York, iron and calcium are essential for pregnant women as these vitamins are necessary for your dental health. Pregnant women have a higher risk of getting periodontal diseases, so it would be wise to include these vitamins in your diet.Remember, you are your baby’s sole source of nutrition for the next nine months.
Start Exercising
It’s crucial that you exercise regularly during your pregnancy. This ensures that your cardiovascular system is in good condition and that you do not develop any health conditions from a lack of exercise. You do need to be careful not to overexert yourself during pregnancy, though. Talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise regime, and be ready to reduce your current exercise level if necessary. Most moms-to-be avoid strenuous activities such as running for the majority of their pregnancies, but every case is different. Some great activities that you can do for your entire pregnancy include walking, yoga, biking, and Pilates. If you are experiencing incontinence during your pregnancy, consider wearing protective pads to prevent urine leaking and loss of bladder control.
Stay Hydrated
You’ve probably heard horror stories about how at the end of your pregnancy you’ll have to use the bathroom every five minutes. Your bladder becomes compressed by your baby’s growing weight, so you have to empty it more frequently. This is no excuse to drink less, though. Particularly during your early pregnancy, when you’re likely to lose water to vomiting, you need to increase your water intake. Carry a water bottle at all times, and don’t forget to bring refills on long car trips. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to take a drink every half hour if you’re out of the habit.
The beginning of a pregnancy is one of the most exciting stages of life, but you’re likely also nervous about all the ways that your life is changing. Take these concrete steps to protect your health and prepare yourself for your new baby.