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Get a healthy start to pregnancy with these tips

Are you having a baby, or planning to get pregnant? Healthy habits will help your pregnancy go more smoothly, in the first trimester and beyond. Follow the advice in this article. It will give you the best chance for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Get a checkup

It’s best to get a checkup before you get pregnant. Your doctor will check your health history and make sure you’re up-to-date with vaccines. This is also a good time to share any concerns with your doctor and make a plan to stay healthy throughout your pregnancy. Do you have a condition like diabetes or asthma? Work with your doctor to get the condition under control before you get pregnant.

Eat right

When you’re pregnant, you’re eating for two. Enjoy a variety of healthy foods each day. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and fish, and low-fat or no-fat dairy products like milk and cheese. Be sure to eat foods that are high in folate. Folate is a B vitamin that helps prevent some birth defects. Foods with folate include black beans, spinach, and broccoli. Your doctor may also tell you to take a prenatal vitamin while you are pregnant.

Be active

In the first three months of pregnancy, you may get tired more quickly. But if your doctor says it’s OK, keep exercising. Working out when you’re pregnant is safe. It can also improve your sleep, mood, and energy.

Quit smoking

Smoking may cause problems for your baby. For example, it may cause your baby to be born early or to be underweight. If you smoke, or if someone in your home smokes, now is the time to quit.

 

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Check medicines

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take. If a medicine is unsafe to take during pregnancy, your doctor can help you stop, or choose a different medicine that is safe. 

Avoid morning sickness

In the early months of pregnancy, you may have morning sickness. These tips may help ease the nausea and vomiting:

  1. Eat small meals throughout the day.
  2. Avoid being too full or too hungry.
  3. To settle your stomach in the morning, eat a few crackers before breakfast.
  4. Do not eat foods that are spicy or greasy.

If you still feel sick, talk with your doctor.

Are you expecting?

As soon as you are pregnant, visit your doctor. Regular checkups can help prevent problems, for you and your baby. Routine care also keeps you informed about your baby’s growth and development.

When you’re deciding where to have your baby, consider us! Take a maternity tour to see what we have to offer.

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