The Top 10 Guidelines to Ensure a Healthy Pregnancy

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Although every pregnancy is different, there are some dependable guidelines that mothers-to-be consistently follow early on for a healthy pregnancy.

Here are the top 10 guidelines that every pregnant woman should keep in mind—

1. Be sure to consult a doctor

As soon as you find out that you are pregnant, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional to receive guidance and advise on how to best care for your health and your growing baby.

2. Make sure that you eat well

A healthy and balanced diet is essential for women trying to ensure strong beginnings for their baby, and this should include regular portions of fruit and vegetables, plenty of complex carbohydrates (i.e. root crops and fiber-rich foods), daily servings of protein, vitamin D, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids.

3. Consider taking supplements

Keep in mind that supplements do not replace healthy diets, but they do help ensure that your baby is healthy and strong, especially in the early stages. Be sure to talk to your physician for the right kind that you should take.

4. Be sure to be mindful of the food you eat

This is specific to food that might be dangerous for your baby. The reality is, your exposure to viruses and infection through food carry a significant risk for you and your baby. Avoid raw food, undercooked meats, moldy cheeses and pates. Make sure you wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.

5. Try to get some exercise

Exercise during pregnancy should not be forgotten as it helps mothers-to-be build their endurance for the physical challenges that lie ahead, such as the extra body weight and childbirth. Be sure to consult a physician before any exercise, but generally, keep it low impact and try activities such as brisk walking, swimming, yoga or sign up for aquanatal classes to get the physical as well as mental benefits.

6. Do not drink alcohol

Alcohol will easily reach your baby through the blood stream and placenta, so stay away from alcoholic drinks, especially during your baby’s first trimester as they may increase your risk of miscarriage.

7. Make an effort to minimize caffeine intake

Coffee is considered to be a mild stimulant, and increasing your intake of caffeine may raise your risk of miscarriage. Doctors recommend that you do not go over one cup and keep it less than 200mg a day.

8. Do not smoke

It almost goes without saying that smoking, even outside of pregnancy, is dangerous to your health. But when you’re carrying a child, you increase your risk of miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight. It also raises the incidence of nausea and vomiting, ectopic pregnancies and placental abruption.

9. Make sure you get lots of rest

Your body will go through a lot of major changes, and in the first few months, you will need to be more mindful about slowing down and taking it easy. Sleep well, take lots of naps and try to relax.

10. Be sure that you drink maternal milk

Along with dietary changes, doctors also recommend drinking a maternal milk formula to support your intake of nutrients to help ensure your baby’s proper health and development. One such maternal milk is ProMama® which is nutrient-dense and has lower calories. Its taste is preferred over the leading brand, and it delivers the essential nutrients you need to give you and your baby a strong beginning.

These guidelines may be challenging, but think of them as an investment for yourself and your baby’s good health.

“It helps to stay informed and aware about what’s to come, particularly during the first three months of your pregnancy, when you’re experiencing everything for the first time,” says Diane Lapid, Product Manager – ProMama®. “And it’s all about forming good habits needed to support a healthy pregnancy.”

For more pregnancy tips and to know more about ProMama®, you can log on to www.facebook.com/ProMamaPH or contact Wyeth Careline at 81-WYETH (81-99384) for Metro Manila and 1-800-10-884-222 (toll-free) for provinces.

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