40 Weeks Of Love: A Pregnancy Guide

There is nothing more exciting and fun than finding out you are pregnant. Pregnancy is a subject that a lot of women spend time thinking about, while they look forward to the day that they become a parent. First time mothers-to-be always have a number of questions. Continue reading to find some tips which will hopefully provide you with the answers you seek and even supply you with some information you didn't expect to learn.

Refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol when you are pregnant to make sure that your baby is healthy. Your unborn child can get harmed by nicotine, alcohol and both legal and illegal drugs. You need to keep in mind that everything you ingest can have both good and bad consequences to your child, so it is best to always stick with a healthy diet during the pregnancy process.

Pregnancy enhances the sense of smell and this new sensitivity can make previously pleasant smells become unpleasant triggers for nausea. A little bit of lavender oil or lemon on a handkerchief can help if nausea is a frequent problem. You can whip it out anytime you need a relieving whiff that will spare you the stench of garbage or anything else odoriferously obnoxious to you.

Whether you snored before pregnancy or not, it is quite a common occurrence for snoring to increase while you are pregnant. Nasal membranes swell during pregnancy. Many women find that nasal strips can alleviate snoring by opening up the nasal airways. If your snoring is disrupting your partner's sleep, get them a pair of earplugs.

Contact your doctor immediately if you think you water broke. You may be leaking amniotic fluid, and your doctor needs to know this so that your baby can be delivered, or that you can be given antibiotics to prevent infection.

If you are pregnant but are not yet ready to announce it yet, there are ways that you can avoid drinking alcohol at an event without drawing attention to yourself. One way is to say you are on antibiotics. Instead of drinking red wine, you could fill your glass with cranberry juice--nobody will know the difference. You might have to convince your partner to carry on the charade with you, though. In the end, consider whether being honest is actually the best road to take.

While pregnant, it is important to get ample sleep in order to keep yourself energized and focused on helping your baby grow. Wearing comfortable nightclothes and keeping your bedroom at the right temperature can help you get your best and most restful sleep.

Try to avoid situations where you must sit for extended periods of time. By day's end, many pregnant women will find that their feet and ankles are swollen. This happens because of the extra strain on the circulatory system, especially that of the lower body, in late pregnancy. The longer you sit down, the worse the swelling can be. To reduce the swelling: lie on your left side when you sleep, soak your feet in cold water, avoid socks with tight bands and do not cross your legs at the ankles when sitting.

It is crucial that you monitor your iron consumption when you are pregnant. Low iron can lead to increased fatigue, and may lead to your baby being born with a low birth weight. Take a prenatal supplement that contains iron, and eat foods that are high in iron, such as spinach or red meat.

Pregnancy is a time of change and growth for your body, so why not take pictures of your belly as it develops? The miracle of a new life growing over these months might soon escape your memory as you go through the challenges of raising your delivered baby, so this set of photos will make a great keepsake.

Eat a snack or small meal before you trek out to shop for groceries. Pregnancy leads to cravings, but the items you may desire can be unhealthy for you and your baby. While it is okay to indulge occasionally, you want to primarily eat nutritious food that will benefit both you and your baby. If you're not hungry while you're shopping, you're much more likely to stick to your list.

You have just read a lot of advise on being pregnant. You will probably find that everyone you know, and even some people you don't know, will give you advise whether you want it or not. Make sure to listen to your gut, and don't take any advise that seems to be harmful to you.