Having as Healthy of a Pregnancy as Possible If you want to have a very healthy baby, you need to be sure to take all of the steps you can while you are pregnant to stay healthy, strong, and happy. There are many different things you can do from taking vitamins and supplements, to exercising daily. To begin with, you need to be sure that you make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. You will probably go visit them around eight to ten weeks along, and they will be able to check the baby and tell you how you are doing.

Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

They will probably weigh you to see how much you are gaining, as well as take your blood pressure. They may test your urine for infections, too much sugar, or too much protein. At this point, they will probably be able to check your baby's growth, by measuring from your pubic bone to the top of your growing uterus. While not all doctors will, they may do an ultrasound using sound waves to get a picture of your baby, and check his or her position and growth. When it comes to steps that you can take now, remember that your baby eats well only if you do, so a balanced diet is very important. Be sure that you are getting plenty of whole grains, including bread, cereal, rice, and pasta. You need to be sure that you get plenty of fresh vegetables, as well as fruit like oranges, strawberries, and grapefruit, which are rich in vitamin C, a very important vitamin for your immune system. Include some protein-rich foods like lean meat or poultry, peanuts, beans, and peas in your eating habits. Getting plenty of Calcium is important as well, which can be found in low-fat dairy products and vegetables, such as dark, leafy greens, broccoli, beans, and black-eyed peas. Consume only small amounts of sugar and fat.

Get Plenty of Nutrients

You should probably avoid fast foods, canned foods, junk foods, and frozen meals which often have a lot of fat. Unless your doctor advises you to, you probably do not need to reduce your amount of sodium intake.

Drink at least six to eight glasses of liquids each day, including water, fruit juice, or milk. Taking the right vitamins are very important as well. You need to get at least four hundred micrograms of folic acid daily before your pregnancy, and in the early weeks of conception as well. This may reduce the risk of certain birth defects of the brain and spinal cord.

Talk to your doctor about the need to take a prenatal vitamin, and which one you should take. Remember that gaining weight is usually a sign of a healthy growing baby. In general, a good weight gain range for a healthy pregnancy is about twenty five to thirty five pounds, though every woman is different. Your doctor will be able to tell you what will be a healthy amount for you personally.

Regular physical exercise can have special benefits for your pregnancy, such as lessening discomfort and fatigue, enhancing well-being, and promoting early recovery after labor and delivery. You might want to walk, swim, bike and/or do an exercise program at least three times a week. Be careful about how you go about your exercise, however. You don’t want to injure yourself and require diathermy. Be sure to ask your doctor before you engage in these though, to make sure they are safe for you. Always avoid all alcohol, smoking, and drugs.

Avoid “Fishy” Foods

You should check with your doctor before taking any over the counter drugs, including herbs. Stay away from all unpasteurized milk, and raw undercooked fish and meats. Bacteria in these foods may cause food poisoning known as listeriosis, which is dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn babies. You should also avoid alfalfa and similar sprouts which can also contain harmful bacteria. Be sure to avoid swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tuna, and tilefish. They often contain small amounts of mercury, which can be very harmful for you. Avoid handling any cat litter, and do not eat any meat that is undercooked. These can cause an infection called toxoplasmosis that can harm your baby. Many women are curious about what their caffeine intake should be. If you must, use only moderate amounts of caffeine, but if you can, avoid it completely. If you do these things, you are more likely to have a healthy baby. Talk to your doctor today about what else you can do to keep you and your baby safe.