Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
Every mom wants a healthy pregnancy, but with wives’ tales and weird advice always popping up, it’s hard to know what really helps and what’s just myth. It also helps to talk to a qualified professional in addition to your doctor, such as a nutritionist, about what you can do to be healthy during pregnancy. Here are some tips for a healthy pregnancy that may help clarify things.
Up the Leafy Greens
Dark leafy greens are nutritional powerhouses. Increasing your intake of all fresh vegetables and fruits is a great idea, too – just make sure you eat as “colorfully” as you can, and go heavy on the dark green. Broccoli, kale, chard, spinach, and mustard greens are all examples of healthy greens.
Frequent Healthy Snacks
Protein, protein, protein! A pregnant woman’s need for protein is significant. It ties in with blood sugar regulation, too (see below). Professionals recommend snacking frequently – almost constantly – on high-protein foods like protein bars, whole grain crackers and nut butter, and lean meats.
Blood Sugar Regulation
Some pregnancy and birth professionals present compelling evidence that nausea and vomiting during pregnancy may be due in part to low blood sugar. Help combat this by sipping watered-down juice during the day, or make a healthful ginger-lemonade by sweetening ginger tea with raw honey and lemon juice and pouring it over ice (or drink it hot). Ginger has been shown in studies to help relieve nausea, and the honey will help keep your blood sugar steady if you sip it slowly through the day.
Early to Bed…
…frequent to rise! Yes, pregnancy can be disruptive to sleep. This is another reason to go to bed early – you’ll need more total hours in bed to get the rest you need. In other words, because the quality of sleep during pregnancy is not necessarily great, you may need to increase the quantity.
Stretch and Move
Throughout the day, take some time to stretch and do some movements beneficial to pregnant women. If you have a chiropractor or personal trainer, he or she can probably help you develop a set of exercises and movements you can do at home to keep your body aligned. Speaking of exercises…
Regular Exercise
A light exercise routine has been shown to contribute to a healthy pregnancy. Once again, check with a qualified health professional before embarking on an exercise routine, and choose one that’s designed for pregnant women. Water exercises, Yoga, and Pilates are a few of the more common pregnancy exercise routines. Walking every day can also be a simple and effective exercise.