5 Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy

The ultimate goal of any conception is to enjoy a full-term pregnancy that results in a healthy baby. In order to do that, your health is actually the priority. The bottom line is that babies will take everything they need straight from your body to nourish theirs. So, your job is to make sure you're nurturing yourself well enough to grow a healthy baby - while sustaining a healthy body.

And, because the body is an integrated system, I think it’s just as important to nourish your mind and spirit. Honouring these 5 tips are a good place to start...

1. Prepare your pre-pregnancy body

Your health and well-being should always be a priority, but it’s especially important when you’re trying to have a baby. The reality is that most women don’t find out they’re pregnant until the five to six week mark; women with irregular periods may not even realise it for eight to 12 weeks. 

This early period in your pregnancy is such an important time in a baby’s development because the brain and nervous system are being “built.”

2. Make diet a priority (and don’t stress about morning sickness)

Continuing on the lines of eating well, diet really should be a priority when you're pregnant. Your baby will take what it needs, for example, leaching calcium from your bones; in order to produce his/her own if your diet is calcium deficient. Your pregnant body needs extra protein, higher levels of fiber, specific amounts of various vitamins and minerals, and healthy fats.

If morning sickness is an issue for you during those first 12 to 15 weeks, don’t panic. Your body will be able to make up for it later, but I do recommend:

• Eating smaller snacks (even crackers and water, or sips of soup or smoothies) to prevent an empty stomach that exacerbates nausea
• Making sure you’re resting whenever possible since as overexertion increases morning sickness.
• Drink water, water with lemon, decaf teas, bubbly water; whichever is most palatable to you but also keeps you hydrated.

A nourishing diet is just as important after your baby is born, so now is a good time to connect with a local nutritionist who can work with you to find simple recipes (or prepare healthy foods and snacks for you), giving you access to quick, easy, delicious and healthy foods when you need them.

3. Exercise (moderately) at least five times a week

Exercise has multiple benefits for mothers-to-be, including increased circulation and oxygenation, decreasing swelling in the extremities, minimising common pregnancy discomforts, and building strength and stamina for your upcoming labor and delivery. Be sure to listen to your body and follow it cues.

4. Treat yourself to a massage and other forms of Tender Loving Care (TLC)

Everybody knows that life after baby is never the same, but you don’t really experience that at the core until - life after baby. Treating yourself to some TLC now is good for your mental and emotional well-being as you prepare for big life changes, but you don’t have to feel guilty about it all since we all know that a healthy heart and mind are integral to a healthy body!

Some ideas include:

• Starting each morning with some quiet time and your cup of raspberry tea
• Scheduling a prenatal massage every trimester
• Getting a mani/pedi (and paying a little extra for an expanded foot massage)
• Taking baths (but not too hot :-) ) with your favorite bath salts and/or essential oils for extra relaxation or heading to the pool for a relaxing float
• Investing in a body pillow for more comfortable, sustainable sleep as your belly expands

5. Create a birth plan

Your pregnancy doesn’t stop until your baby is born, and so facilitating a healthy labor and delivery is part of the healthy pregnancy plan. Going through this process establishes a more connected relationship with your healthcare provider, helps to get you and your partner on the same page, and allows you to weigh pros-and-cons of various interventions, or what to do when the unexpected occurs.

My name is Salma Begg and my passion revolves around pregnant mothers and the babies they deliver. I’m a professional Newborn and Maternity and Family Photographer and I’d love to be part of telling your healthy pregnancy story on images from beginning to end.

Contact me to schedule your session 0406 260 714