New moms spend many hours in researching ways to keep their babies happy and healthy. This worrying comes with the territory of experiencing a whole new kind of responsibility.
Becoming pregnant is only the beginning but it’s a very vital stage in your baby’s health.
Start on the right track by following these tips for first-time pregnancy:
1. Avoid Caffeine And Follow Caffeine Free Drinks
Drinking caffeine during pregnancy has some major health issues. The caffeine gets digested much slower and goes through the placenta into your baby’s blood supply.
This means that the caffeine side effects of a racing heart rate, high blood pressure, and a stimulated nervous system affect you and your baby. i.e. Tea, coffee are the most well-known caffeinated beverages. Other soft drink beverages that contain caffeine include energy shots and even hot chocolate. Just like coffee beans, cocoa beans contain small amounts of caffeine.
The result is a higher chance of miscarriage. Try switching to a naturally caffeine free herbal tea, juices etc…but do consult your doctor or midwife as certain herbs can cause premature labour.
2. Do Exercise Or Yoga Regularly
Having a baby is rough both physically and mentally. To reduce the pain and mood swings that come with being pregnant, exercise, yoga and meditation regularly.
Low impact exercise can help ease back pain, increase circulation, and improve your mood. It will also strengthen your muscles and ligaments in preparation for labour.
Some great exercises and yoga asanas that limit the stress on your body include swimming and walking. Yoga improves fertility rates and prenatal yoga opens up your hips, relieves stress, and assists with tiredness.
3. Drink Plenty of Water And Stay Hydrated
First-time moms require more water than normal, You can get dehydrated fast while pregnant since you need more than you are used to. It is recommended that you drink at least 8 to 10 cups of 8 ounces each day to stay hydrated.
Drinking enough water can also relieve swollen joints and flush your system of built-up toxins.
4. Take Naps
Extreme tiredness, especially during the first trimester, is common. Your body is going through hormonal changes that will affect your energy levels.
Take the time now to take a nap and let your body relax. Once the baby is born, you won’t have the opportunity to rest as often. Your sleep schedule will be fluctuate.
So, treat yourself to an afternoon nap to restore yourself and help ease the stress of work and personal life on your baby.
Getting the right amount of sleep at night is also important. As your pregnancy progresses, it will become more difficult to sleep at night. You will use the bathroom often and struggle to find a comfortable position for your bump.
Make up for lost sleep at night and invest in a pregnancy pillow that goes in between your thighs and under your below. A pillow will align your hips to take the pressure off of your back and pelvis and to make you .
5. Prenatal Massage
Before giving birth, schedule a time for a professional prenatal massage.
A low-impact massage treats lower back pain that can be a menace throughout your pregnancy. It will also increase circulation and remove inflammation that causes swelling.
Avoid a massage at the beginning of your first trimester. Most practitioners won’t accept women during this time as the chance of miscarriage is higher. You can get a message anytime up into your due date after that.
6. Make a Birth Plan
Being a mom begins during the birth of your baby. You want to make this moment special and safe. That is why making a birthing plan is essential.
Do your own research online about your options before taking any advice from friends and family. This is your decision so you should have an unbiased view of the ways to give birth.
While a hospital birth is traditional, a rise in the use of midwives and even home births is occurring now a days.
7. Go for a Shopping
Get excited for your bundle of joy by getting those essential and cute baby items ready.
You can prepare the nursery with a crib, changing table, rocking chair, and dresser. Plus, pick out a bright colour for the walls and decals for the windows for your baby to enjoy.
Dressing your baby is fun, but it also requires a lot of planning. You don’t want to run out of clothes when your baby has a growth spurt. Plan to buy one size up from their current age. New born clothes won’t last long so only buy a few.
You also want to decide on diaper brands or choose cloth or reusable inserts. For new born, disposable diapers work the best since you will be changing very often. As they get older, you may switch to a more eco-friendly option.
Don’t forget about blankets, bibs, bottles, and some starter toys.
These items will help you prepare both physically and mentally for your new addition.
Finding More Tips for First-Time Pregnancies
As you progress in your pregnancy, more questions will pop up daily. To find more tips for first-time pregnancies visit online forums and mom’s groups to get anecdotal advice from moms who have been in your shoes.
If you plan to have another baby, but you don’t know when then visit our egg and sperm freezing page for information about planning for the future.