Four Golden Rules To Follow For A Healthy Pregnancy
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You’ve just announced your pregnancy and the congratulatory messages have already started pouring in. Well, congratulations! Now that it is slowly sinking in, you’re also in a stage of processing the staggering number of advice that has come your way with each congratulatory message, even from random neighbors and colleagues, and relatives you did not know existed until now. While some of them are genuine and helpful, the rest might seem completely illogical. Yet, you’ll still give an ear to anyone who has a piece of advice, because you never know what really clicks. However, telling the good ones and the not-so-good ones apart could prove to be a matter of Herculean task. As much as we’d wish, we’ll still be unable to help you in that matter. But, of course, we can share our own set of four Golden rules to be followed during pregnancy. And before you could say, “God! Not another list!”, let us assure you that these rules are those tried-and-tested ones that every pregnant woman will vouch for:
1. Choose Organic/Real Food Stuff
We are what we eat. And it is believed that a child gets his/her food preferences right from the time he/she is in the mother’s womb. So, it becomes all the more necessary to check what you eat if you are pregnant. Choosing organic food is the right way to go. And that means saying no to all processed foods, fruit drink concentrates, foods with artificial flavors and colors, no MSG, and no trans-fat. You may feel that all these constitute almost half of your regular diet. But no, the fact is that there is a whole range of organic foods for you to choose from. Choose fresh fruits, organic or homegrown vegetables, fresh poultry, and meat over frozen or canned products. You’ll thank yourself later once you start noticing their benefits on you and your baby.
2. Keep A Check On Your Weight Gain
Admit it, we all have been guilty of dieting or exercising to get that perfect figure at some point in our lives. It may have been all about how we looked at that point. But maintaining a healthy weight and keeping excess weight-gain in check is more of a necessity now than a fad. As your doctor would have already pointed it out to you, excess weight gain may cause pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, which can cause problems during delivery for you and your baby. So don’t fall for the ‘eating for two’ temptation and keep that weight gain in check.
3. Exercise Regularly
Again, we all know the benefits of regular exercises are not limited to pregnancy alone. If you’ve been a fitness freak before pregnancy, continue to do so but make sure to modify some of your exercise routines. Check with your doctor or physical instructor for the same before you resume your regular exercises. However, if you’ve never exercised before conceiving, it is always better to first check with your doctor regarding the kind of physical activity that you’ll need. And, of course, you can always opt for walking. Apart from controlling your weight, it’ll help you relax and de-stress as well.
4. Avoid Alcohol Consumption
Do not touch that glass of red wine, no matter how tempting that looks. Alcohol consumption has been linked to many cases of miscarriage. And, there has been no definitive study to indicate it’s safety during pregnancy either. Certain complications such as premature delivery or low birth weight of the baby are also believed to be one of the side-effects of alcohol consumption. So, it is best to totally avoid alcohol during pregnancy.
Becoming a mother is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any woman, even if she’s being pregnant for the second or third time because every child is equally precious. When your baby means so much to you, giving up certain things, making small changes to your diet and routine are changes that are all worth it!
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