Although pregnancy and the wonderful gift of life through birth is amazingly beautiful, there are stages and moments throughout the process that can be extremely uncomfortable and not so beautiful.
Everything from the mother’s diet, physical activity, attitude and everything in-between will be challenged and altered throughout the pregnancy. For many women it’s a 9 month ordeal that requires fortitude and vigilance on behalf of the incoming child.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to reduce discomfort and aid in making the whole thing a lot more endurable! Coping with pregnancy doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds!
Maintain a balanced and healthy diet
As a rule of thumb for every person, whether they be pregnant or not, having a healthy and well balanced diet is a sure fire way to make sure that the body is operate at optimal efficiency.
A diet that consists largely of high fibre foods and that are rich in vitamins and minerals reduces the risk of things like heart disease, diabetes and other health problems. Since a pregnant lady is eating for two, it is important that she maintains her health so an easy way to do this is to implement vitamin rich foods such as fruits and vegetables.
Not only does a healthy diet reduce risks of numerous health risks, it also allows for a better sleep, provides the body with more energy and helps to improve brain function – all of which are greatly needed by the pregnant ones!
Invest in maternity clothing
During pregnancy and even after pregnancy, the body experiences some intense physical changes. Bellies grow big and as a result, feet become swollen under the extra weight and pressure of growing a tiny human inside the belly.
In some cases you might try to get your clothing altered for your new body but this can be costly. This is why having comfortable clothing right from conception to beyond birth is a crucial part of easing the process.
Cotton is a good material to look at buying, as it is light and breathes easily. Making sure that pants, shirts, shorts or skirts all have elastic bands and stretchy materials will allow for easy movement that won’t be too restricting, especially in the later stages!
It’s a good thing to keep in mind that cheap maternity clothes don’t always mean lesser quality! There is a tonne of cheap and fashionable maternity clothes that are able to do just as much, if not more than the more expensive clothes! Cheap maternity clothes are always available from thrift stores, online or simply in the bigger brand name stores such as Target or K-Mart.
Regular exercise
Regular exercise and a healthy diet are two in the same, being that both of these things are great ways for anyone to ensure that they are feeling their absolute best. Maintaining a consistent exercise regime has many benefits:
- An increase in energy levels
- An increase in serotonin levels, which are the hormones that make people happy
- Improving brain function and memory
- Aids in weight loss
- Improves blood circulation through the body
There is a misconception about woman exercising while pregnant, with a lot of people believing that people who are pregnant shouldn’t be exercising as much as they usually would, but this isn’t necessarily true. Woman who are carrying children have more of a reason to stay active!
The best exercises for pregnancy are things that are low intensity, such as swimming, walking or light cycling that aren’t going to be too harsh on the body while still allowing for all of the benefits of it.
The main thing to remember is that every individual and every pregnancy is different. What applies to some may not apply to others, and so it is really important to have regular check ups with a trusted doctor or GP. The body is an amazing instrument and more often than not, it will let the host know if there is something wrong.