Step by Step Healthy Pregnancy Plan for New Moms

Parenting is not an easy task and pregnancy is only your first step towards it. Hence, this is the time to take care of yourself and be physical and emotionally ready for your new baby. This step-by-step plan will prepare you and your baby for a new life full of health, happiness and love:

Follow the Doctor

As soon as you come to know that you are pregnant, see your doctor. Know about all the scans and tests you might need, ask about medicines or food supplements you need (and ones you must not take during pregnancy, and understand any complications you might face (and how to avoid them).

Be Diet Conscious

A healthy, balanced diet is a must for a mom-to-be. Make sure you take at least five portions of fruits and vegetables, plenty of carbohydrates and fibre in the form of wholegrain items, and lots of proteins (especially fish). Don't worry about eating for two during the first six months of pregnancy but in the last trimester, you need an extra dose of about 200 calories for your baby.

Healthy snacks can help you keep up your energy levels.

Food Supplements

What not to eat?

Be extra cautious about food hygiene during pregnancy. Wash fruits or vegetables, utensils, boards and your hands thoroughly. Cook eggs until the yolk and white parts are solid. Cook meat and readymade meals thoroughly and wear gloves when you handle dirty things like garden soil or cat litter.

Exercise Routine

Regular exercise is essential for mom-to-be. It helps them to keep off depression, back ache, build strength and endurance to bear extra weight of pregnancy and labour pains, and get back into shape post delivery. Brisk walking, swimming, yoga, pilates and aqua-natal classes are some of the activities you must indulge into.

You may continue to play your favourite sport until it is comfortable for you to play it. However, if it has a risk of falls or knocks or extra pressure on joints, it is advisable to keep off it during the pregnancy period.

Pelvic floor exercises (especially eight pelvic floor squeezes three times a day) help you tone your pelvic muscles to support bladder, vagina and back passage? exactly where you feel extra pressure during pregnancy. Strong pelvic floor also helps in smooth delivery of baby.

You also need proper rest during pregnancy. If you are not able to sleep at night, try to take a quick 30-minute nap during the night. To relieve backache, try lying down on the left hand side with your knees bent and a wedge shaped pillow under your bump.

New moms are also advised to cut down on their addictions like alcohol, caffeine or smoking as it they pose dangers like miscarriages, low birth weight and birth defects in babies.