After you become pregnant, you’re suddenly not only watching your own health, but you’re also in charge of your unborn baby's health. For the nine months you’re pregnant, every choice you make not only impacts your own health, but it’s also an important part of your child's immediate growth and development.
As part of our pregnancy services at Women's Health Associates of Southern Nevada, Northwest in Las Vegas, Nevada, OB/GYNs Anita Gondy, MD, Saovaros V. Michaels, MD, and Ankita Raman, MD, support you in living as healthy a lifestyle as possible while you’re growing your baby.
In many ways, staying healthy while pregnant is similar to maintaining your health at any other time, but there are additional factors to consider when you’re expecting. These six guidelines ensure both you and your baby will be nourished during pregnancy.
As an expectant mother, one of the most important health habits you can develop is eating a nutritious, calorie-rich diet. Focus on eating a balanced, healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits, lean-cooked protein, and whole-grain carbohydrates.
Our team advises you on what foods and beverages to avoid completely in pregnancy, which often includes:
Our team also advises you on the ideal amount of weight gain that will help nourish and grow your baby while keeping you healthy.
Physical activity is safe for pregnant women and has many health benefits. Moderate exercise of at least 150 minutes per week during pregnancy keeps your bones and heart strong and helps you feel relaxed.
If you’re new to exercise, our team can help you develop a plan for pregnancy-safe exercise, including activities such as walking, swimming, and prenatal yoga. If you’re already active, our team lets you know if your pre-pregnancy activities are safe to continue and what modifications you might need to make during pregnancy.
Many medications that are safe for adults can be harmful to an unborn baby. Check with our team before taking any medication, even if you took it before you became pregnant.
Additionally, avoid any naturopathic or herbal remedies as it may not be possible to determine how they might impact your baby. We can assist you in finding pregnancy-safe vitamins and medications that support your baby’s growth and keep you feeling comfortable during pregnancy.
Whenever possible, aim to avoid toxins in the environment that are potentially dangerous to your baby. These include:
You should also avoid cleaning cat litter boxes and the inside of an oven, and if your house is being painted, leave until the smell of the fumes is gone.
Pregnancy is an exciting time but brings many physical and life changes. Working on ways to remain relaxed and calm during pregnancy helps you and your baby stay healthy.
Learning relaxation techniques, connecting with other parents-to-be and parents, getting as much rest as possible, and reaching out if you need further support will help you cope with any stressors you experience during pregnancy.
Monitoring your baby’s growth and your health at WHASN-NW is an important part of your pregnancy. Keeping your appointments ensures your baby is developing as expected and catches any potential challenges in your pregnancy early.
Our team is here to work with you to ensure your pregnancy-care appointments fit in conveniently with your life, so you can attend all of them and make this a priority when you’re expecting.
If you’re pregnant or hoping to conceive soon, contact us today to request an appointment for pregnancy care.
