Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times in life! For a successful pregnancy, you need to lead the healthiest possible lifestyle. Stick to healthy image life is important, since not only your well-being and mental state, but also the health of your unborn baby depends on it. Try to eat healthy and maintain physical activity and take care of yours emotional state. You may need to make certain changes to your lifestyle. By making these changes in your life, you will significantly improve your health and the health of your unborn child.

Steps

Follow your doctor's orders

Choose the right doctor and clinic. Your doctor will monitor you throughout your pregnancy, so find a clinic and doctor that you like. Ask your physician or friends to recommend a good obstetrician-gynecologist. An obstetrician-gynecologist manages the pregnancy until the birth itself. And don’t think that you should be seen by the first doctor you make an appointment with. You can see one doctor and make an appointment with another for your next appointment. Choose the doctor with whom you feel more comfortable and in whom you are confident.

• Ask your doctor about his experience and methods of pregnancy management used.
• You can also choose a doula and midwife, especially if you are interested in home birth or other specific types childbirth, for example, water birth.

1. Make sure you have regular prenatal care. Frequent and regular visits to your OB/GYN, family physician, or certified midwife will keep both you and your unborn baby safe throughout the pregnancy process. As soon as you find out you are pregnant, or suspect that you might be, start seeing a specialist. If pregnancy is confirmed (usually confirmed by ultrasound), your obstetrician-gynecologist will monitor you. You can start seeing your regular primary care physician, but as your pregnancy progresses, you will likely need to start seeing an OB/GYN. So, if your pregnancy is progressing normally (in the opinion of your doctor), your visits should be scheduled according to the following schedule:

   Make sure you get regular physical activity. It seems that with growing weight, morning sickness and muscle pain, it is very difficult to continue to lead an active lifestyle and exercise. However, by maintaining physical activity during pregnancy, you will ensure the health of not only yourself, but also your unborn baby. Regular exercise will help easy birth, will help you lose weight faster after childbirth, recover faster physically and stimulate the healthy growth of the baby in the womb. Try to do 30 minutes of light exercise every day, such as swimming, cycling, lifting light dumbbells and yoga. Walking can also be good exercise.

   Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep during pregnancy is essential for the full development and growth of the baby. Set a goal to get at least eight hours of sleep at night, and try to go to bed shortly after lunch. Going to bed at the same time every day (preferably before midnight) promotes deeper, more restful sleep.

   • Sleep on your left side to relieve pressure on your lower back. It is not recommended to sleep in other positions as you risk cutting off your circulation.
   • Do not use pregnancy pillows without consulting your doctor.

2. Watch your weight. It's true that you will gain weight during pregnancy, but the weight gain can have a significant impact on your health and the health of your baby. Your individual weight gain will depend on your initial weight and BMI (body mass index) before pregnancy. To determine your ideal gain, you need to first calculate your BMI. Discuss with your doctor what weight gain is normal for you. Here are the approximate values ​​for what weight gain should be depending on BMI.

   Visit your dentist regularly. Dental care is especially important during pregnancy because the body produces more estrogen and progesterone than usual, each of which (at high levels) can cause gingivitis and gum disease, which causes gums to bleed, become sensitive, and become permanently swollen. Try to visit your dentist every 3-4 months during pregnancy to monitor your oral health. Take good care of your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly.

   Make sure you are getting enough iron. The body needs iron to make blood cells, both yours and your fetus's. Most prenatal supplements contain iron, but as with most nutrients, it is best to consume iron in its natural form, found in foods rather than in supplements.

   • Red meats, spinach, and iron-fortified whole grains (such as whole grain breads and cereals) are rich in iron. Try to eat at least one serving of these iron-rich foods every day.

3. Take fish oil. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for baby's brain and eye development. Since omega-3 fatty acids are sufficiently large quantities found in fish such as tuna, sardines, salmon and anchovies, you can eat fish or take fish oil supplements to reduce your intake of mercury, which can accumulate in these types of fish. You can take up to 300 mg of fish oil daily.

Avoid unhealthy foods and drinks

1. Don't drink alcohol. Alcohol is strictly prohibited for pregnant women, since its consumption entails a whole range of congenital malformations and complications. Alcohol consumption significantly increases the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth, increases the likelihood that the baby will later have developmental disabilities, and leads to fetal alcohol syndrome. Avoid alcohol completely during pregnancy to avoid these risks, and if necessary, if you experience alcohol dependence, consult a specialist or psychologist.

   • If you drank alcohol without knowing you were pregnant, don't worry - the sooner you give up this bad habit, the less likely you are to experience the complications described above.
   • Some doctors and women believe that it is acceptable to drink one small glass of alcoholic beverage occasionally. Discuss this issue with your doctor.

2. Limit your caffeine intake. You may love coffee, tea and sodas, but if they contain caffeine, they can be harmful to the developing fetus. Research shows that consuming caffeine during pregnancy is associated with a higher chance of miscarriage and complications during childbirth.

   • It's best to eliminate caffeine from your life altogether, but some doctors believe that consumption of up to 200 mg (equivalent to one cup of coffee) per day is safe.
   • Whenever possible, try to drink decaffeinated coffee, tea, and soda. Products containing caffeine (such as chocolate) are okay in moderation as the levels are low.

3. Avoid eating raw or semi-cooked foods. Several foodborne illnesses, including toxoplasmosis and listeriosis, are often found in raw and undercooked meats. These diseases can be quite dangerous for the developing fetus, so it is better to avoid foods that may contain them.

   • Try to avoid shellfish, raw fish (such as sushi or sashimi), raw or cured meats, and raw eggs.

4. Don't eat fish, which accumulate mercury. Heavy metals such as mercury and lead are incredibly harmful to the fetus and can even cause death in large enough quantities. Some types of fish are particularly high in mercury, making them dangerous to eat during pregnancy. These include swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tuna and tilefish. However, fish such as canned tuna, salmon, halibut and cod are safe to eat during pregnancy.

   • During pregnancy, limit your consumption of all types of fish - even safe ones - to once or twice a week.

5. Avoid unpasteurized cheeses. While a platter of soft cheeses may seem appealing, unpasteurized cheeses may contain bacteria that cause a number of birth complications. As a result, it is better for pregnant women to abstain from them altogether.

   • Some of the most well-known unpasteurized fresh cheeses include brie, feta, goat cheese, camembert and blue cheese. Hard cheeses, such as cheddar, Swiss and Havarti, are safe to eat.

Change your lifestyle

1. Try to put everything necessary vaccinations before conception. If you are planning a pregnancy, get all the necessary vaccinations in advance. It is recommended to do this at the clinic to which you are prescribed - they will probably have a history of the vaccinations you have had. This way, your doctor can determine whether you need vaccinations and, if so, which ones.

   • Vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella, as well as vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (DTP) must be given strictly before pregnancy.
   • You can also get vaccinated against influenza during pregnancy.
   • If you have any questions or concerns about immunizations, talk to your doctor.

2. Quit smoking. It is generally recommended to avoid any kind of smoking as it is harmful to the lungs. This is especially true for pregnant women - whatever you smoke ends up in your baby. Nicotine and tobacco enter the bloodstream, thereby increasing the likelihood of stillbirth, miscarriage or prematurity. Eliminate all types of smoking from your life, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes and cigars.

   • Some studies show that babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy grow up to be chronic smokers themselves.
   • Also avoid secondhand smoke.

3. Stay away from all illegal drugs. Drugs in any form - especially street drugs - are incredibly dangerous for a developing fetus. Using recreational drugs is almost 100% guaranteed that your child will have a birth defect or condition, as they significantly affect your body and brain function, and therefore your child. In addition, mothers who are addicted to drugs and continue to use drugs during pregnancy may actually pass on their addiction to their child. Then the newborn becomes drug dependent and also suffers from withdrawal symptoms, just like an adult.

   • If you suffer from drug addiction, then find out about addiction recovery programs and consult a narcologist for advice.
   • Continue to live drug-free after the birth of your child for the sake of your own health and the health of your child.

4. Try not to visit saunas, baths or steam rooms. An increase in body temperature to very high levels can be dangerous for the fetus; studies show the relationship between high body temperature and developmental disorders and defects. While warm showers and baths are fine, spending longer periods of time in too hot conditions can cause serious problems, especially in the first trimester.

   • Avoid any place where the temperature reaches above 38 degrees Celsius, and if you must be there, limit your stay to 10 minutes and no more.

5. Avoid exposure to environmental toxins. Exposure to certain chemicals and toxins is especially dangerous for pregnant women, even if they pose no risk to non-pregnant women. Cleaning solvents, strong chemicals, heavy metals (like mercury and lead) and some biological substances (like asbestos) are associated with complications and birth defects.

   • If you work or live in a place where you are likely to come into contact with such toxins, do everything you can to prevent it permanently. Change your lifestyle if necessary.

6. Try not to clean up cat litter box. Cat feces can spread a dangerous infection called toxoplasmosis, which is very dangerous for pregnant women. In the mother, the disease may occur without visible symptoms and pass on to the fetus undetected, causing serious brain and eye defects in the growing baby. If you have a litter box, stay away from it and let someone close to you take responsibility for cleaning it regularly.

   • While you are pregnant, your cat's litter box needs to be cleaned very thoroughly, at least once a day.
   • If you must clean your cat's litter box, wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning.

Pregnancy is perhaps exactly the condition that every woman awaits with trepidation.

It’s simply amazing when you know and feel how a little person, or, but already loved and desired, is growing inside.

For many, this is such a long-awaited moment that, almost immediately after conception, they begin to listen to the behavior of their body in order to recognize the symptoms of pregnancy in time.

But it is unlikely that such a condition can be recognized literally in the first days.

It should take at least a week for early signs to appear.

But even in this case, this will not be a 100% guarantee of a positive result. Only a gynecologist can give a more accurate answer after a delay in menstruation, and not earlier than 4-5 weeks, as a result of a full examination.

There are several signs by which pregnancy can be determined.

They are divided into:

1. doubtful, i.e. not giving any guarantee, but taking place,
2. probable, which the doctor takes into account,
3. reliable, confirmed by diagnostics.

Symptoms of pregnancy are characterized by a combination of certain physiological changes occurring in a woman’s body.

Often, many even early stages you can see the first signs that conception has occurred.

Questionable signs

An ambulance must be called immediately in order to be able to provide timely assistance. medical care to preserve the fetus.

In order not to confuse them with regular periods: such bleeding does not have to be profuse, but can be accompanied by either severe or unusual nagging pain in the lower abdomen.

Reliable signs

If you look at all these signs together, you can confidently conclude: the symptoms of pregnancy in the early stages are very similar to a cold.

Therefore, in the first days of conception, it is quite difficult to determine most accurately whether a woman is in an interesting position. But how can you find out about conception even before your period is missed, in the early stages?

• It can help with this.

It shows results already in the first 10 days, because... this hormone begins to be produced only after the embryo has fixed on the wall of the uterus.

But every woman will tell you that there is an eighth - the birth of a child. Of course, sometimes it happens that pregnancy is not very desirable, but, one way or another, any representative of the fair sex should know the characteristics of this condition of the body in order to diagnose it in time. First of all, the peculiarities of pregnancy should be known to every woman who dreams of a healthy and strong baby.

Are you pregnant or is this a dream?

Let's look at some early signs of this state. This is necessary so that the course is not mistaken for a disease. One of the first signs of pregnancy is the cessation of menstruation. In some cases, the cessation of menstrual bleeding can be caused by stressful situations, sudden climate change or various diseases, for example, hormonal.

The next point may be sudden nausea during the day, especially in the morning, and hypersensitivity to various odors. Usually these symptoms begin in the fourth month and go away on their own by the fifth month.

Another fairly noticeable sign that something is developing inside you new life, is also a darkening of the areola. If the pregnancy progresses normally, then this symptom may appear more and more every month. Over time, colostrum will begin to be released from the nipples, as the expectant mother’s body prepares for breastfeeding.

In the early stages, pregnant women experience a frequent urge to urinate, this is due to an excessive flow of blood to the pelvic organs, which leads to compression Bladder. If, despite all the previously listed signs, your mood also changes frequently, without apparent reason you want to cry or, on the contrary, the fun is raging over the edge, or maybe you have become especially sleepy, then, most likely, you are really pregnant.

Let's go to the gynecologist

So you think you are pregnant. Regardless of whether this fact makes you happy, you should definitely visit a gynecologist. Of course, now in every pharmacy you can buy different ones. All of them are based on the fact that a specific hormone is produced in the body of a pregnant woman - human chorionic gonadotropin, at a certain concentration in the urine the test will show a positive result. However, a visit to the gynecologist is mandatory, since no test can determine the nature of the pregnancy. The fact is that a pregnancy can only be considered normal when the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus and develops there. But sometimes it can happen that it settles, for example, in the fallopian tube. It is not possible to determine on the basis of one test alone. It is worth remembering that the consequences of the development of such a condition are incomparable to the false embarrassment or possible unpleasant sensations that women often experience when visiting a doctor. Moreover, ectopic pregnancy poses a direct threat not only to health, but also to the life of a woman.

A trouble-free pregnancy is the key to the birth of a healthy baby.

To ensure the normal development of the little man, it is very important to carefully monitor your health and nutrition during pregnancy. A few simple rules will help you with this.

Rule 1. From now on, you need to monitor your diet. The diet should be varied and rich in vitamins, because your baby eats the same thing as you. Vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids are especially important during pregnancy.

Rule 2: Increase the amount of calcium in your diet. This is necessary for the proper formation of bones, teeth and nails of the unborn child. And your own teeth will thank you too.

Rule 3. If you don’t want to lose weight for a long time and painfully after giving birth, carefully monitor the amount of food you eat. The popular belief that you need to eat for two is nothing more than a fiction. Your diet must be varied, but not excessive. Remember, overeating is a direct road to problems not only for the mother, but also for the child.

Rule 4. One of the important elements in a pregnant woman’s body is folic acid. So make sure you consume enough of it. Not only the condition of your nails and hair depends on this, but also the correct formation of the child’s spine.

Rule 5. Play sports. For example, you can go to yoga, Pilates, jogging, or perform a set of exercises for pregnant women. Don’t be lazy to do them regularly, because this will not only help keep your muscles and heart in good shape, but will also saturate your body with oxygen, which will have an extremely positive effect on the health of your unborn baby. Getting started sports activities, do not forget to consult your doctor.

Rule 6. Enjoy your pregnancy, remember - this is not a disease, but a normal condition of every woman. Try to avoid stress and anxiety - this can negatively affect the course of pregnancy and subsequently lead to problems with breastfeeding.

Pregnancy diary, is it necessary?

Whether or not to start a pregnancy diary is up to each expectant mother to decide for herself. In principle, this can be quite interesting, because in the everyday hustle and bustle a lot is forgotten, and a diary will help remind you of pleasant moments. Such a diary can be especially useful for first-time mothers, because they do not yet have their own experience, and by re-reading the diary of more experienced friends, you can clearly imagine the course of pregnancy from the first days and understand what changes will occur in the body at one time or another . In addition, the diary will help the gynecologist more accurately describe your condition. And this, in turn, can be very important if the pregnancy progresses with complications. So, what happens to the expectant mother’s body depending on the period?

First trimester

Since gynecologists begin counting from the first day of the last monthly bleeding, then in the first trimester your “interesting situation” will be one week less than in all the others. Considering the course of pregnancy week by week, it will not be difficult to track how your baby is developing and what he already “can do” by a certain date.

In the first month, everything happens literally at the cellular level. So, on the fourth day after fertilization, your child consists of 58 cells, and only 5 of them are the fetus and umbilical cord rudiments, and the rest will be used for nutrition and development. By the end of the first month (more precisely, the 3rd week), the embryo already has the shape of the letter C and its “growth” is 2.5 mm.

At 5-8 weeks, the rudiments of the main organs, both external and internal, begin to form: rudimentary eyes, nose, ears, the basis of the spinal cord and brain, intestines, liver, lungs, etc. At this stage, the baby has gill slits and small tail.

In the third month, the fetus takes on the appearance of a human being. During this period, it is very important for the expectant mother to move more, because the baby’s vestibular apparatus is developing. The arms and legs are already well formed, the fingers are hardening, the first movements appear - the child opens his mouth, moves his limbs, makes the first swallowing and sucking movements. At the tenth week, sexual characteristics are already clearly visible.

Second trimester

Starting from the fourth month, the fetus undergoes active growth of brain cells, the formation of genital organs ends and its own hormones begin to be produced. By the end of the fifth month, all vital organs (respiration, digestion, nervous system and hematopoietic organs). During the 6th month, the fetus actively gains weight and facial features are formed. In addition, the child begins to sleep.

But for a woman, pregnancy in the second trimester is usually accompanied by excellent health, and toxicosis goes away. Sexual attraction also often appears.

Third trimester

The normal course of pregnancy in the third trimester determines the formation of a full-fledged person: the baby can already see, hear, and respond to external stimuli. Gradually, by the 36th week, the fetus stops freely changing its position and is located in the uterus almost statically, most often with its head down. Middle child by this moment has a height of 46-50 cm and a weight of 2.8-3 kg. Of course, various variations are possible, but too strong a deviation from the average parameters requires mandatory consultation with a doctor and constant monitoring.

Dangers, features and possible complications

The most dangerous complication requiring immediate specialist intervention is water leakage. During pregnancy, especially in its later stages, sometimes such an unpleasant and rather dangerous phenomenon occurs as partial leakage of the amniotic sac. This situation should not be treated negligently. After all, partial leakage of water may be associated with injuries or micro-ruptures of the amniotic sac, and even a good gynecologist is not always able to determine the real reason this phenomenon. Although this condition has not yet been sufficiently studied, it is precisely established that most often it is a harbinger of untimely birth.

Finally

For a normal pregnancy to avoid various complications, you should follow the recommendations of specialists as carefully as possible and listen to your feelings, then your baby will definitely be born strong and healthy.

A pregnant woman constantly prays for a safe and healthy pregnancy and hopes that everything will be fine with her and her baby. In case you are pregnant, you don't need to worry too much about whether everything is okay. Just pay attention to these five signs, and by them you can easily determine whether your pregnancy is progressing normally or if something is going wrong.

1. Constant and gradual weight gain

Constant and gradual weight gain is, first of all, a sign that your pregnancy is underway like clockwork. You can ask your gynecologist to provide you with information on the dynamics of your weight gain, or print it out from one of the pregnancy websites. In general, a pregnant woman should gain between 12 and 15 kg of weight throughout her pregnancy.

2. Normal blood pressure levels

Blood pressure is one of the most important factors healthy pregnancy. High blood pressure can lead to many complications during pregnancy and childbirth. If your blood pressure is within the normal range, this is a very good sign that everything is going well.

3. Body pain and aches

Do you find it difficult to move while carrying a child? These are general normal symptoms for your condition. Don’t be alarmed by body aches and joint pain, but if the pain becomes unbearable, there is a reason to consult with your doctor to take all safety measures.

4. Normal blood glucose levels

Gestational diabetes is common among pregnant women and can make pregnancy difficult and have dangerous consequences for the baby. If your glucose levels are normal, then this is another sign of a healthy pregnancy.

5. Normal movements of your fetus

Somewhere between the fourth and fifth months, you will begin to experience the most wonderful feeling of pregnancy - baby movement. Those gradual reversals and sudden blows are the best part about your position. If you feel that the baby is moving regularly in the womb, this is a sign that everything is fine with him. If you think that your child for a long time was not active, as is usually the case, then you should talk to your doctor.

I sincerely believe that these signs will help determine whether everything is fine with you. However, if you feel uncomfortable, you have a bad feeling that something is wrong, then do not hesitate - immediately consult a doctor. It will always be wiser than just hoping for the best.