4 Prenatal Care Tips That Can Make a Huge Difference in Your Pregnancy Journey

August 23, 2024

Is it not amazing how a woman’s body can give her the greatest gift of her life? Childbearing might just be among the most exciting periods when the love story of a lifetime begins. A mother waits with bated breath for her little one to arrive, constantly scrupulous about doing everything right.

Over 3.74 million babies were born in the US as of 2023. Nearly 1.46 million births have already occurred by May 2024. It’s still a matter of time until we discover whether this year’s birth numbers will surpass those of the year prior.

Are you also expecting a newborn soon? One can only imagine how excited, nervous, and overwhelmed you must be. Perhaps you’re reading this article in your family planning stages. Regardless of that, you will find useful prenatal care tips that can make your pregnancy journey smoother and healthier.

Eat Well and Get Enough Folic Acid

There is much truth in the loving remark often made to expecting mothers that they must eat for two. This is not to suggest that a mother must consume twice her regular calories. However, her diet will directly impact the health and development of the baby.

A healthy diet is a surefire way to prevent common pregnancy complications involving the placenta, amniotic fluid, and eclampsia. Not only that but a healthy prenatal eating routine reduces future health risks for the baby, including the danger of low birth weight.

As per MedlinePlus, a pregnant woman must consume around 1,800 calories daily during the first trimester, 2,000 during the second, and 2,400 during the third trimester. However, this should not be pure junk calories, but rich nutrition.

The said calories must be consumed in small and healthy 9 to 11 servings throughout the day. Your baby needs all kinds of nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, folic acid, and more.

Of these, iron and folic acid are among the most important since the former is needed for the baby’s blood supply. The latter is required to prevent birth defects in the brain. Your healthcare provider will conduct regular checks to see if the levels of any important nutrients are low.

If they are, you will be asked to take relevant supplements. Ensure you get enough of the two aforementioned nutrients and go for regular checkups to identify any fluctuations on time.

Consider Having a Doula and Midwife

We live in the day and age of everything holistic, including prenatal care. This is precisely why you can opt for a team of experienced doulas and midwives for your pregnancy journey. As of 2023, Statista found that the number of midwives across US states ranged between 30 and 890.

California was found to have the highest number of these professionals. Why we encourage having a midwife and doula for support has to do with the following reasons -

You will receive holistic care as these professionals will look at factors like sleep, stress, relationships, etc., and their impact on pregnancy.
Your chances of a safe, normal, and non-surgical delivery increase. Midwives are experts in this area and will know when medical intervention is necessary.
Midwife and doula visits are much more extended and in-depth than obstetrician appointments.
Even if your pregnancy may have some complications involved that affect your psychological well-being, you will get emotional support and healing.

On that note, we would like to draw a clear distinction between a midwife and a doula. The former receive medical training to safely deliver a baby to this side of the world. A doula’s role, on the other hand, is to focus on the physical, mental, and emotional needs of the mother.

Stay Physically Active

Pregnancy is unlike any other time because a thousand different changes take place within the mother’s body. The mother needs all the strength she has to not only grow the baby healthily but also for labor and birth. This makes physical fitness of utmost importance during pregnancy.

John Hopkins Medicine states that regular exercise is recommended to almost every expecting mother, regardless of her routine before pregnancy. It is always best to consult with one’s healthcare provider before building a prenatal exercise routine.

Women with issues like high blood pressure, vaginal bleeding, shortness of breath, and cervical problems should not indulge in heavy exercise. Walking and aerobic exercise are often the easiest and safest recommendations.

Since pregnancy can be a time filled with complaints like sore back and swollen feet, many people believe walking barefoot is a good stimulation. There can be several reasons, including weight redistribution, good posture, better breathing, and ideal balance.

Now, the dilemma is that walking barefoot is not safe under all circumstances. Still, there is a way to let your feet ‘see’ and connect with the ground underneath. For instance - Rutsu barefoot shoes come with flexible and thin outsoles to establish that sacred connection. They’re a game-changer for feet health and can allow them to look around freely at the terrain below.

Educate Yourself

Much of the scare surrounding healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery has to do with a lack of information or having only half the answers. They do say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

When you make a conscious choice to research and educate yourself on what the journey is like and what changes to expect, you will feel truly empowered. It will reduce anxiety regarding you and your baby’s health. You can make informed decisions when it comes to birth choices, complications, nutritional requirements, infant care, and more.

Like you’re reading this article to understand what’s best for your prenatal journey, consult with your healthcare provider, and connect with fellow mothers. Choose as many reliable resources as possible to ensure no aspect of this period is completely alien to you. These would include books, classes, friends and family, etc.

On a final note, we would recommend knowing when to contact your healthcare provider. Despite all careful measures, there is no denying the fact that pregnancy can be a confusing time. Oftentimes, it gets difficult to ascertain whether a twinge is normal or problematic.

Apply the tips discussed in this article because they will play a key role in straightening out the process. At the same time, let your healthcare provider be at arm’s reach. It’s better to err on the side of caution, so don’t hesitate to reach out.