11. Travel during pregnancy:
Traveling is fine in the initial stages, but it could be risky as your due date approaches. Several airlines do not allow women travelers who are more than 36 weeks pregnant. If your travel is unavoidable, consult your doctor and take necessary precautions. There could be times when a doctor’s certificate is a prerequisite for travel.
Here are some early pregnancy facts in which your doctor may advise you to avoid traveling:
- History of pre-term labor or miscarriage
- Multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, or more)
- High blood pressure
- Placental abnormalities
- Gestational diabetes
- Incompetent cervix
- History of bleeding during pregnancy
- History of preeclampsia or ectopic pregnancy
If none of these complications exist, your doctor might allow you to travel. Most doctors permit travel in the second trimester but may ask you to avoid it during the first and third trimesters.
Read also: 4TH MONTH OF PREGNANCY: THE FETUS REVEALS ITS GENDER
12. Have the right attitude:
Always be positive. The right approach will make you strong enough to face the challenges at every stage of pregnancy. Psychologists reinforce that sound mental decorum of the mother has a high impact on the fetus. Prepare ahead, as a well-informed mother can cope with the early laborious days after delivery.
13. Keep your career worries aside:
You might be worried about the status of your career once your baby arrives. Don’t try to push your existing career into the new role as a mother. A career that meshes better with motherhood is an ideal pick. You can rebuild your career once your kids grow older and are independent.
14. Allocate time for everything:
A study published in the Journal Of Labor Economics mentions that pregnant women who worked until their eighth month had babies half a pound lighter than those who stopped working earlier. Pregnancy could be a huge stress on your body, and therefore, you cannot stress yourself more with a job. If you cannot afford to take a break from work, take frequent breaks in between.
15. Choose your place of birthing:
You should plan the place – hospital, nursing home, etc. – where you would like to give birth. It is important to choose a place that is best for you and suits the needs of your family. The hospital should be determined by the expertise of your doctors, their credibility, the visitation hours, hygiene, and other factors such as the distance from home and the surroundings of the birthing place. Selecting a place well in advance and making visits there should make you comfortable for your D-day.
Read also: 7 ACTS THAT BABIES DO IN THE WOMB WILL SURPRISE YOU
16. What is labor pain?
When your due date comes closer, you will go into labor pain. It is necessary to consult the doctor and understand what ‘going to labor’ means. It is another must thing to know when pregnant and identifying it will make it easy for you to handle your labor with no difficulty. One quick sign of labor is frequent contractions which increase in duration as well as intensity. Many times, walking is recommended during early labor because it makes women feel more comfortable
17. Fearing childbirth could delay the labor:
Women who fear childbirth will spend about one and a half hour longer than women who do not fear about giving birth. Fear and anxiety would increase the blood concentrations of the hormones known as catecholamines, which will weaken the ability of the uterus to contract. Poor communication between you and your doctor may also prolong the labor. It is advisable to go for prenatal breathing classes and a doula to guide you through the labor.
18. Do baby shopping beforehand:
Another thing you need to know about pregnancy is to avoid last minute rush, keep all things required post delivery, ready. A few clothes, baby mats, blankets, warm clothes (depending upon the season), and feeding equipment should be bought in advance. Moreover, you enjoy such shopping, and it enhances your connect with the baby.
19. Learning and understanding childcare and parenting:
After delivery, a sudden responsibility of childcare and parenting can be difficult for many people. Therefore, talk to your doctors, friends, relatives, or read various books to equip yourself with some knowledge on pregnancy and childcare.
20. Pregnancy can boost your memory:
Canadian researchers from the University of Western Ontario say that pregnancy supercharges the brain’s gray matter rather than turning it into mush, to face the challenges of motherhood. A study found pregnant moms do well on memory tests than other women who don’t have babies.
Read also: NORMAL DELIVERY: ITS SIGNS, PROCESS,TIPS AND EXERCISES
Read also: NORMAL DELIVERY: ITS SIGNS, PROCESS,TIPS AND EXERCISES
More Important Things To Know About Pregnancy:
- Find a good doctor or midwife to make the delivery safe.
- Take proper naps so that your baby can turn out to be a good napper.
- Boy or girl? You can have some fun with the old wives’ tales to determine the gender.
- Wear properly fitting clothes. Do not worry about the bump, it looks beautiful, and you look cuter.
- You will start snoring, as your nose membranes could swell up.
- Avoid wearing underwire bras as they can restrict the breast changes. Use bras with thickened flat straps, which can cover your breasts completely.
- Fluid retention would be one big issue. Try sleeping with your feet elevated and make sure to drink more water.
- Do not worry if you observe vaginal discharge. Unless it turns thick, smelly, and green, or stained with blood, it is a regular thing during pregnancy.
- The pregnancy hormones speed up the metabolic processes causing you to flush and sweat more.
- Your skin stretches during pregnancy, which makes your tummy itchy.
- You would smell different. The chemical changes in your body will give you a new, alluring, and warm odor.
- Do not miss a single prenatal checkup. Every checkup is important as a few complications, if any, could show only at the later pregnancy stages. The sooner you find, the quicker you can go for treatment.
- Your libido would change significantly. It can be more or less. It is normal, and these changes are temporary.
- Your voice would be the best thing your baby hears when she is in the womb. Tell her stories and sing her songs. She would definitely respond to them once she is born.
- You may have strange mood swings. You can expect anger, sadness, and fear. It doesn’t mean you are mad, it is just your hormones at play.
- If it is your second pregnancy, make your first child feel responsible for the sibling who is on the way. Also if you have pets, keep them clean and instruct them to behave properly when the newborn comes home. Arrange for a pet sitter or dog walker when you are away from home. Your pet shouldn’t be ignored.
- You have to arrange for help beforehand so that there is someone to take care of the baby when you are at work or taking your postpartum rest. It is best to have a close relative but if that is not possible arrange for a night nanny or a baby sitter.
- Ask for a clear set of guidelines from your doctor or midwife before you go into labor.
- Decide beforehand who would be with you when you are giving birth. Some women prefer people around while some others would want privacy.
- You should talk to the doctor about how your spouse can help you with labor. He might be your emotional support when you are giving birth.
- Do not panic when you are in labor. Just calm down and let no story affect you in any way. Everyone’s experience is different. Pack your bag for the hospital if you know you are having a C-section.
Read also: 30 POWERFUL PHOTOS FROM THE 2018 BIRTH PHOTO COMPETITION
It is only you who can decide what is best for you during pregnancy. Just give a healthy start by scheduling the prenatal checkups with the right doctor.
Remember the 1st trimester of pregnancy marks a new chapter in the life of a woman. If you are a first-time mom you will be nervous and anxious, this is a common feeling. A thorough study of the birth process and daily update with your doctor will put you at ease and help you to face the delivery with confidence. However, we hope the above-mentioned points ease your worries and set yourself on this journey with confidence. Feel free to share your thoughts below.