It seems as though there is so much information online on how you should behave to have a healthy pregnancy. While there are some basic recommendations you can follow to improve your pregnancy, a healthy baby can come from moms who don’t take care of themselves.
If you are under our care, we want you – and your baby – to be as healthy and comfortable as possible. The following recommendations come from our experience and medical knowledge as we’ve cared for our community.
Take a prenatal vitamin daily
Exercise regularly
Educate yourself
Change how you perform your chores (i.e., try to avoid harsh or toxic cleaners, heavy lifting)
Purchase a pair of comfortable shoes
Eat folate-rich foods (lentils, asparagus, oranges, fortified cereals)
Eat calcium-rich foods (dairy, some fish, soy)
Eat more fish (except fish high in mercury)
Eat foods with fiber (we promise this will only help, especially as you get to the later stages of pregnancy)
Avoid the soft cheeses that contain bacteria (e.g., brie and feta) as these are known to cause issues in a pregnant woman potentially
Eat your veggies
Try to eat five or six times a day while following the recommendations for a balanced meal.
Limit caffeine
Drink water! At least six 8-oz glasses per day
Avoid drugs that have not been okayed by your physician and stay away from alcohol
Avoid traveling in the early or late stages of pregnancy
Avoid changing the cat litter as changing the litter can be a cause of toxoplasmosis
No smoking! And do your best to avoid secondhand smoke
Practice relaxation techniques (this becomes very important when you are in labor)
See your dentist – pregnancy has been known to cause issues with teeth
As always, you can contact our office for any questions you may have.