It’s vital to make good choices to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. You can increase your chances of having a stress free pregnancy by following these tip
Take prenatal vitamin
Prenatal vitamin consist of a variety of vitamins and minerals that help your baby get the nutrients that are essential for healthy development. During pregnancy, daily intake of certain nutrients, such as folic acid, calcium, and iron will increase.  Vitamins and minerals are vital for proper fetal growth and development. Women who are planning to conceive  can benefit from taking prenatal vitamins before they start trying to get pregnant.
Avoid alcohol
Pregnant women should avoid alcohol  When alcohol is consumed, it gets into the blood. The alcohol in your blood gets into your baby’s body through the umbilical cord. Alcohol can slow down the baby’s growth, affect the baby’s brain, and cause birth defects.
Exercise
Exercising during pregnancy can be beneficial to you and your baby. it helps keep you in shape and prepare you for labour. it’s okay to exercise if your pregnancy is uncomplicated. Consult your doctor or healthcare professional before starting any exercise program.
Stop smoking
Smoking during pregnancy can affect your health and your baby’s. When cigarette is inhaled nicotine and other dangerous poisons are carried through the bloodstream straight into the baby. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, birth defects, low birth weight  and many other health problems. It’s best to quit smoking for the safety of you and your unborn child. Also avoid second-hand smoking. Second hand smoke is the combination of smoke that comes from a cigarette and smoke breathed out by a smoker.
Reduce caffeine intake
women should consider restricting their caffeine intake during pregnancy. If you must take caffeine  limit to 200 milligrams each day. For breastfeeding mothers coffee should be limited to about 2 cups a day.
Avoid cat litter
The concern with cat litter is the risk of being exposed to a parasite called toxoplasmosis. This is an infection found in animals,  birds and people. It usually doesn’t cause serious health problems for most people but for  a pregnant woman, it can cause brain damage and vision loss to unborn baby. You can get infected by
- Changing an infected cat’s litter
- Eating raw or undercooked meat
- Drinking unpasteurized milk
- Eating unwashed fruits and vegetables
Maintain a safe diet
You will have to avoid eating foods like undercooked eggs and meat, unpasteurized dairy products and juices, raw seafood to avoid ingesting bacteria that could harm your baby. Also avoid certain fish that may contain high levels of mercury.
Do your pelvic floor exercise
It’s important to pay attention to your pelvic muscle during pregnancy. The pelvic muscle is crucial for a smooth pregnancy and delivery. The pelvic floor helps support the bladder, bowel and womb. Pregnancy stretches the pelvic muscles. Weakened pelvic floor muscles can make you lose control of your  bladder and cause urinary incontinence. Leaking as a result of a weak pelvis happens mostly when you cough, sneeze, lift or exercise. You may also find that you can’t wait when you want to use the bathroom.
Eat well
It is important to eat a balanced diet during pregnancy to get adequate minerals and vitamins for you and your baby. Â Healthy eating is critical for your baby’s growth and development. To get the nutrients you need, you must eat a variety of food that includes:
- Whole Grains
- Fruit and vegetables
- Protein
- Dairy products
Do not use the excuse of eating well to over eat. Most women only need about 300 extra calories a day.
