Pregnancy Tips: Knowing Which Ones To Observe

Not all pregnancy tips that you get from friends and family members should be taken seriously. Many of these are simply old wives' tales or are told to you just to make you feel anxious about your pregnancy. By reading literature on your delicate situation, you will learn to weed out the good pregnancy tips from the bad ones.

Pregnancy tips you should ignore

Some pregnancy tips, such as the one about eating strawberries causing strawberry birthmarks, is simply baseless. There are other pregnancy tips, on the other hand, which may seem senseless at first, but may actually be backed by scientific explanation.

One such pregnancy tip is avoiding cats during pregnancy. This is advice that a pregnant woman should listen to â€" not for any reason related to bad luck â€" it is because cat feces may be contaminated with Toxoplasma gondii which is the microorganism responsible for toxoplasmosis.

If you haven't developed an immunity, and if you're infected for the first time during your pregnancy, there's a high possibility that the fetus might be affected in several ways â€" from premature birth to grave nervous system defects.

There are pregnancy tips, though, that you need to strictly observe as they have been proven beneficial time and again.

Have the right kind of diet

Your condition requires you to have a well-balanced meal, for your own sake and for the baby's welfare. You need not "eat for two" volume-wise, but you should definitely have more than the regular amount of vitamins and minerals.

Vegetarians must consult with their doctors to have an assessment of their existing diets. They should be able to find out which foods to substitute for those required for pregnant women but are disallowed in their vegetarian diet.

Keep away from harmful substances

Smoking is a no-no because it can definitely result in low birthweight. Drugs and alcohol intake will also wreak havoc on the normal development of your baby. Keep away from secondhand smoke as well, and it's best to make your partner aware of the dangers of being exposed to secondhand smoke.

Avoid using strong disinfectants and insect spray at home. These can cause irreversible harm to your baby. Be careful, too with the foods that you crave. If they are healthful for you, then you can indulge. However, there are dangerous and strave cravings such as the desire to eat chalk, clay, dirt or laundry starch. This odd craving is called pica, and should be referred to the doctor immediately.

It's okay to exercise

If you have been leading an active lifestyle prior to your pregnancy, then it is assumed that you are in good shape and can continue with your regular exercises. Howvere, there are sports that are unquestionably dangerous for pregnant women, whether they've been at it for a long time or not.

During pregnancy, reliable pregnancy tips dictate that one should not engage in sky diving, scuba diving, horse jumping, and other sports which could cause a change in body pressure or induce you to repeatedly contract your abdominal muscles with force.

Relax and listen to your doctor

Try not to get too agitated by all the warnings that the people around you give. The experience of carrying a child inside your womb should be a wonderful one, so it's best not to listen pregnancy tips that could cause undue stress.

The best ever pregnancy tip is to visit your doctor according to schedule, ask him or her all the questions you have about pregnancy, and try to relax and enjoy your daily life. Keep a journal if you must or make a poster of all the pregnancy tips you find useful, so you won't forget to practice them everyday.

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