How to Have a Healthy Pregnancy

While pregnant, the woman's body protects the developing baby. Everything she ingests crosses the placenta and goes to the baby. The healthier her pregnancy is, the healthier her baby will be, the better developed her baby will be and the less likely it will be her baby has a birth defect. There are many things you can do to have a healthy pregnancy.

Instructions

    • 1

      Examine your eating habits. Your baby gets its nutrition from you and you should try to eat as healthily as possible. Take in an additional 200 to 300 calories a day, increase your fruit, vegetable and whole grains diet. In addition, make sure you get plenty of calcium, iron and folic acid, either through your diet or a prenatal vitamin.

    • 2

      Take your prenatal vitamin. Your prenatal vitamin helps to make up any deficiencies in your diet and will help your baby to develop properly. Speak to your care provider about what kind of vitamin they recommend. If your vitamin upsets your stomach, speak to your care provider.

    • 3

      Get exercise. Exercise helps mothers gain the proper amount of weight, keeps mothers healthy and strengthens mothers for the work of labor. Speak to your care provider about what kind of exercise regime they recommend.

    • 4

      Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine and recreational drugs. These have been linked with stillbirth, miscarriage and birth defects.

    • 5

      Check with your care provider about any medicine you take during pregnancy.

    • 6

      Go to your prenatal appointments. They help ensure you stay healthy throughout your pregnancy, as you are screened you for common ailments such as high blood pressure. In addition, listen to the warnings from your care provider.

    • 7

      Drink plenty of water. Water helps flush waste from the body, prevents preterm labor and helps ensure there's enough amniotic fluid for the developing baby.

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