Early Stages In Pregnancy

If you think you are pregnant, it is a good idea to purchase and use a home pregnancy test. They are easy to use, easy to read, and very accurate. If you receive a positive result, make an appointment with your gynecologist. If he or she is not also an obstetrician, seek a recommendation for one.

Do your best to attend every scheduled visit with the obstetrician. If you miss an appointment, it is best to reschedule. Make sure you tell the doctor everything about your medical history, especially any issues that could affect your pregnancy and the health of your baby. You will undergo tests from time to time, but these are routine.

If something goes beyond routine, the doctor will explain why it is necessary. You are always free to seek a second opinion, but you should trust your doctor. If you are uncomfortable with your obstetrician, find another one, since this is a very intimate relationship, in which you need to feel secure. Your doctor will prescribe prenatal vitamins, which are specially formulated to insure that a pregnant woman and her baby receive the proper nutrients. Take your vitamins as directed. You might want to have a bite to eat before taking them, as they make some women feel nauseous when taken on an empty stomach.

Prenatal care is a very important part of your pregnancy. It allows your doctor to measure progress and make sure that your baby is developing properly and is healthy. You will see the obstetrician once per month at first, and once each week as you get closer to your due date. It is important to keep these appointments so your doctor knows what's going on. This way, if something isn't just right, your doctor can take action to help make sure you carry your baby to term and deliver a healthy baby. If you experience morning sickness, which many women do in the first three months of pregnancy, try eating a healthy snack before going to bed or nibbling on crackers when you wake up in the morning. Pregnancy is a very exciting time in life, but it also requires you to take very good care of yourself and ultimately your baby.

Healthy Pregnancy Diet - Eating Well During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a stage that is associated with a number of important anatomical and functional changes, which include the increased requirements of some nutrients that are important for the proper development of your baby.

Therefore, it is very important to take preventive measures to ensure the best possible health for you and your baby. So, one of the most important considerations is to have a healthy pregnancy diet.

It is important to meet the nutritional requirements recommended during pregnancy, since the specific deficiency of certain elements can cause major complications to your pregnancy.

Some nutrients of vital importance during pregnancy are:

Folic Acid

Folic acid deficiency, for example, is associated significantly with certain birth defects in your baby, so it is of vital importance to increase its consumption, even before starting the pregnancy. The recommended intake must be increased to 147% to prevent the defects associated with deficiency.

Vitamins C and B12

During pregnancy the levels of vitamins C and B12 decrease gradually. That is why the recommended intake of these vitamins must be increased by 67 and 40% respectively.

Iron

Iron deficiency is a major cause of anemia that can occur during pregnancy.

Healthy Food Choices:

Tell yourself that making smart eating choices is non-negotiable. You have to eat healthy food. End of discussion!

There are some foods where you can find the nutrients needed for your pregnancy and are important for maintaining a balanced diet. These foods are based on vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, protein (milk, fresh cheese, red meat-preferably fat-free as chicken and fish), and reduce the intake of sugars and fats.

The deficiency of vital foods during pregnancy may have important consequences, either because of the loss of nutrients, or because they are not consumed in the proper amount to satisfy the demand of your pregnancy.

Healthy food is essential to avoid gaining massive amounts of weight during pregnancy. If you do, you are putting your baby at risk and setting yourself up for a long road of dieting after the baby is born.

Tell yourself that you and your baby are worth it, so you have to go to the store and stock up on healthy food.

Here you have a basic guide of foods for your pregnancy:
Fruit (2-4 servings): Remember that a serving is half cup of cut fruit, one medium fruit (like a pear or apple) or three plums.Cereals (6-11 servings): one serving equals one slice of bread, 150 gr. cereal or 100 gr. rice or pasta.Dairy (3-4 servings): A serving is a glass of milk, two yoghurts, 150 gr. of cheese or a pudding.Meats (2-3 servings): A serving is a fillet of beef, chicken, fish, or two eggs.Vegetables (3-5 servings): one cup of raw vegetables or half a cup of cooked vegetable.