Maintaining Fitness and Wellness During Pregnancy
Your body goes through many changes during pregnancy. Maintaining your physical and mental health throughout these nine months is vital. Staying active is one way to stay healthy, but there are other ways. Here are a few tips for gaining a happier, healthier pregnancy.
Can I Be Physically Active?
The Department of Health & Human Services encourages physical activity for pregnant women. They list the following as benefits:
- Boost your mood
- Sharpen your focus
- Reduce stress
- Improve your sleep
Being active also makes your labor shorter and recovery faster, and you will be less likely to have any of the following complications:
- Gestational diabetes
- Preeclampsia (a condition that causes high blood pressure)
- Postpartum depression
What Kind of Activities Can I Do?
According to the U.S. Department of Health, you can walk fast, dance, swim, or do aerobics. Even something as simple as gardening can give you the exercise you need. If you were physically active before pregnancy, it’s perfectly fine to keep it up.
What Kind of Activities Should I Avoid?
They recommend avoiding high-risk activities such as downhill skiing, horseback riding, or sports where you could get hit by a ball, such as basketball or soccer. After your first 12 weeks (first trimester), they also suggest you avoid exercising while lying flat on your back because it can cause problems with blood flow.
Can I Eat For Two?
“Eating for two” does not mean eating twice as much. It means you need to have proper nutrients to support you and your baby.
Plan for a balanced diet that includes more protein (chicken, eggs, beans, and yogurt), iron (spinach, broccoli, nuts, and seeds), calcium (milk, cheese, and yogurt), and folic acid (asparagus, citrus fruits, and Brussels sprouts).
Doctors suggest women gain weight at the following rate:
- 2 to 4 pounds total during the first trimester (12 weeks)
- 3 to 4 pounds per month for the second and third trimesters
Avoid the following:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Smoking
How Can Women’s Capre Medical Center Help Me?
Our team wants you to have a healthy pregnancy. If you haven’t been tested for a sexually transmitted disease (STD), now is the time. Anyone sexually active can get an STD, but according to the CDC, young people aged 15 to 24 and pregnant women are among the groups most affected.
At the Women’s Care Medical Center, our licensed medical staff can offer limited, free STD testing and treatment if your test is positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea. All you have to do is take a center pregnancy test.
Your health and well-being are important to us. Take advantage of our many free pregnancy services. Make an appointment at the center nearest you. We’re here to help you.
Pregnancy Testing
Even if you’ve taken a home pregnancy test, you should verify the results. We provide confidential, no-cost pregnancy testing to help you receive the answers you need.
Ultrasounds
A positive pregnancy test isn’t enough information to make an informed decision. An ultrasound scan can determine how far along you are, the pregnancy’s location, and if it’s viable.
STD Testing
Before making a decision about your unplanned pregnancy, it’s important to know if you have an STD. Take control of your health, get tested today, and receive the peace of mind you deserve!
Pregnancy Testing
Even if you’ve taken a home pregnancy test, you should verify the results. We provide confidential, no-cost pregnancy testing to help you receive the answers you need.
Ultrasounds
A positive pregnancy test isn’t enough information to make an informed decision. An ultrasound scan can determine how far along you are, the pregnancy’s location, and if it’s viable.
STD Testing
Before making a decision about your unplanned pregnancy, it’s important to know if you have an STD. Take control of your health, get tested today, and receive the peace of mind you deserve!
