There are many steps that every expecting mother should take during their pregnancy. Prenatal care is vital to the health of both mother and baby. It provides the necessary information on nutrition, testing, and stages of pregnancy. This care also allows you to catch any health concerns early.

What is prenatal care?

Prenatal care includes the steps that moms should take to ensure their own health and that of their baby. The mother will go to regular doctor visits to find out any information about the baby and to prepare for birth. If you think you could possibly be pregnant, it’s important to schedule an appointment as early as you can. Doing this will ensure that you are prepared at every stage of pregnancy.

Lifestyle changes during pregnancy

When you become pregnant, your life won’t just change once you have your child. There are lifestyle changes you may need to implement during pregnancy too.

• Don’t be afraid to gain weight during your pregnancy. Women who are pregnant should expect to gain a healthy amount of weight.
• It’s recommended that you take 400mg of folic acid daily.
• Take a daily prenatal vitamin too!
• Don’t smoke cigarettes or take any kind of drugs. It’s also important that you refrain from alcohol intake during your pregnancy.
• It’s important that you have daily activity. You can take walks to help you maintain exercise unless otherwise advised by your doctor.
• You should refrain from taking hot baths or using a hot tub while pregnant.
• Get plenty of sleep and try to reduce your stress levels.
• Try to stay away from chemicals like cleaning supplies or paint fumes.
• Take any steps to avoid illness.
• Try not to come in contact with secondhand smoke from cigarettes.

The foods you should and shouldn’t eat

You may not have known that there are certain foods that an expecting mother should not be eating. Be sure to talk to your doctor about what you can and can’t eat. Your prenatal visits should include discussions about your diet and what may be bad for the baby.

Foods that are okay include:

• Any healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables
• Lots of fluids such as water
• Food that contains iron
• Fully cooked meat

Foods to avoid include:

Do not eat things such as deli meats, unpasteurized cheese, uncooked meats, and undercooked meats. These all have the potential of causing risks to the pregnancy.

Do not eat fish such as swordfish, king mackerel, shark, tuna, or tilefish. These all contain mercury which is unsafe for pregnant women. One exception to this list is tuna. Small amounts of tuna fish can be ok for an expecting mother to eat, such as 1-2 cans per week. It’s always important to read all of the ingredients on everything that you eat and limit the number of unhealthy foods that you might crave.

Prenatal care in Amarillo, Texas

If you’ve recently found out that you are pregnant, congratulations! Pregnancy can be a wonderful experience. It’s important that you find a trusted doctor to help aid you through this process. Contact the professionals at Women’s Healthcare Associates to schedule an appointment today by calling (806) 355-6330! We are dedicated to making you as comfortable and healthy as possible during your pregnancy.