Your 40 Week Journey: How To Best Manage Your Pregnancy

Pregnancy should be a happy and memorable time for both you and your partner. There are many things you cannot control, but by taking care of your mind and body you can greatly increase your chances of a great pregnancy. Expecting a child is one of the most important milestones in life and these tips should help you maneuver through this phase with joy.
Exercise regularly while you are pregnant. Exercise keeps you in top shape for labor, may reduce your risk of miscarriage and helps you get back in shape after the baby is born.
Walk as much as you can when you’ve exceeded your due date and you want to go into labor. Walking helps get the baby into the birthing position. Ask your partner to go with you. Do not do anything dangerous, like contact exercising.
If your feet swell up during pregnancy, discuss it with your physician. This might just be a benign issue, but in some cases it could be preeclampsia, a dangerous form of hypertension that affects those who are pregnant. You must seek treatment for this condition or you risk your health and the life of your child.
It is normal to be excited about preparing a nursery for an incoming baby. But keep in mind that fumes from paint is not healthy, especially when you’re pregnant. Be certain the room has proper ventilation and open windows. You’ll also need a family member or friend to help so that you do not overtire yourself.
Cramped legs are quite common in the third trimester. Stretch your legs before bed to avoid them. Drinking plenty of water and making sure you’re getting enough potassium in your diet can also help you avoid cramps,
Drinking Alcohol
Do not consume alcohol at all when pregnant. Alcohol easily travels from the pregnant woman right to the baby, through the placenta. The best advice for women trying for a pregnancy and those who are pregnant is to stop drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol while pregnant increases the chance of mental and physical birth defects and increases any risk of miscarriage and premature birth.
Avoid sitting for long periods of time. Pregnancy often comes with swollen ankles and feet, especially in the afternoon. Circulatory issues and fluid retention are both factors in lower body swelling for pregnant women. Swelling is made worse when you have to stay seated for extended periods of time, such as for a long car drive or a desk job. In order to decrease swelling, you should lie on the left side while sleeping, soak feet within cool water, stay away from stocks that have tight bands, and never cross legs at your ankles while you’re sitting.
There is no point in making pregnancy a more difficult process than it already is. Use the advice in this piece and have a great pregnancy. Both Mom and her partner will benefit by referring to this article and heeding the advice it contains.