Healthy Pregnancy - A Healthy Baby & Mum

Pregnancy is a time for excitement and joy for a mother-to-be. It is also the time of uncertainty. The key, to evade all pregnancy related problems and complications, is to stay healthy and fit. A healthy pregnancy is attained by constant care and effort. It is important to follow a regime consisting of healthy and nutritious diet, adequate sleep, exercise, and following special precautions.
Healthy Diet
Diet is the most important aspect of a healthy pregnancy. The growing fetus draws the nutrition from mother's body for growth and development. A pregnant woman needs all essential nutrients like proteins, iron, calcium, folic acid, etc. for the healthy growth of the baby.
The need for total amount of calories needed by the body also increases. An expecting woman needs up to 300 more calories per day than her usual requirement. She must consume a balanced diet consisting of foods which are high in nutritional value. She must not gain excess weight as that can make delivery difficult along with leading to obesity in a few years from pregnancy. The tendency of the baby being overweight also increases, if the mother is too. Include lots of fluids in your diet in the form of pure water, hot and cold drinks, fruits, etc.
Foods To Be Avoided
There are some foods which should be avoided in excess or as a whole during pregnancy. The foods which can cause infection of the abdomen or diarrhea should be strictly avoided.
Some of these foods are:
o Non-pasteurized milk and cheese
o Fruit juices as these are easily contaminated
o Salads and poultry products may be contaminated as well
o Raw sprouts
o Too much of white tuna
o Certain fish such as shark, mackerel, swordfish, etc. due to their high mercury content.
Safety & Hygiene
A pregnant woman is 'carrying' the baby, so she has to be very careful. She has to be careful with her posture and avoid squatting, dancing, etc. during early pregnancy. Traveling long distances can exhaust her. Jerks and bumpy rides must be avoided at all costs.
You must take extra caution to avoid any kind of illness during pregnancy. As it is not recommended to take medicines, following good safety and hygiene habits is the best way to evade food borne illnesses. Fruits and vegetables must be washed thoroughly before eating or cooking. Store cooked food in chillers and handle food hygienically. Wash and clean the cooking utensils with soap and hot water.
Oral Hygiene
Underlying tooth and gum problems generally surface during pregnancy. Hormonal changes usually cause these troubles. Maintaining a regular dental hygiene can evade such problems. Gum disease is often associated with low birth weight so it is advisable to avoid that. However, if the need arises you can receive treatment for dental problems during pregnancy.
In order to have a healthy pregnancy, a woman needs to make a number of changes in her daily routine and lifestyle. She would be glad she made those changes when she welcomes her little bundle of joy in her world.
The term, healthy pregnancy, essentially implies incorporating a healthy lifestyle during the various trimesters of pregnancy. To know more about the essentials of pregnancy baby health, you may visit the specified link.