Steps for Practising Self-Care When You are Pregnant

The act of caring for your baby begins even when they are still in the womb. From the moment of conceiving, motherhood already begins for you. By practising good prenatal care for yourself, not only are you ensuring your baby is healthy, but it also helps you avoid any complications during birth. If you’re reading this, then you’re probably looking for answers for how to care for yourself during pregnancy. Here, not only will you find the answers you seek, but we will also break it down by the different semesters of pregnancy so that we got all the stages covered for you. With that, let’s jump right into it!

First Trimester

The first step in the first trimester is just to accept your new identity and responsibilities. It may take time to sink it but it’s the single most important part of the process. But why keep it all to yourself? Share with your partners — they’re in it together with you all the way, and you should not have to go through it all by yourself.

In the first trimester, morning sickness is common. There is usually a trigger for this, and it is up to you to find out what triggers your morning sickness. It could be certain smells or foods. If that is the case, find out what it is and try your best to avoid it. Vitamins and supplements as prescribed by a physician will also help if the symptoms persist.

On this note, it is also important to plan your daily meals ahead, especially focusing on getting the right amount of nutrients essential for the development of your child, like folic acid. Another perk of being pregnant is that you can snack several times throughout the day without any guilt, as your body and baby require extra nutrition and energy!

Everyone’s least favourite part of pregnancy has to be stress. Mood swings affect almost all mothers out there, and will probably affect you as well. But you will not avoid stress. You will face it head-on and deal with it because you are a strong person. Not only will you feel better in the short-term, but also helps you face any stress coming your way in the future with confidence. One of the ways to help with this is to constantly get fresh air. Keeping your dwelling well-ventilated or going out on strolls at the park will help make sure you don’t feel suffocated.

Second Trimester

This is where you start seeing and feeling your body changing. A growing baby bump will be the most obvious one of all. Accompanying this are a slower walking pace, aches and cramps. Your back, legs, and waist are the ones that will feel it the most. A good prenatal massage will help relieve these discomforts, so treat yourself to one! Your gums will also be more sensitive during pregnancy, and your toothbrush should be gentle on your gums. Try getting a softer-brushed toothbrush and also be gentle to yourself when brushing and flossing!

Showing up for the second time. Plan. Your. Diet. We know. Now that your baby bump is showing, you might be starting to feel self-conscious. Still, it is advised that you do not try to lose weight at any time during pregnancy. If you are feeling hungry, be sure to eat and fill yourself up. Your baby is most definitely not going to feed themselves, so you have to. Also, do avoid foods that will cause constipation to ensure you are able to process your food smoothly. Complement the diet with suitable exercises like yoga to ensure your fitness does not drop by too much.

Third Trimester

You’re now in the endgame. In a couple of months or so, you will be delivering your baby into the world. Being mentally prepared is key to having a smooth third and final trimester before birth. Fret not if your thoughts are running wild or if you find yourself constantly freaking out. Talk to a professional to help keep those emotions in check. A tidy house will also help with keeping your mind “tidy”. And also, after giving birth, you will have your plate full after giving birth, so why not save yourself the hassle later on by keeping clean? There are also various quality cleaning services that can help you out if you need the extra hand.

Just as it is important to be mentally and emotionally prepared, it is also important to be physically prepared. As your baby grows in your womb, all the energy it consumes comes directly from you. To conserve as much energy as possible, get adequate rest and sleep as you see fit to avoid getting worn out. Now that you have been rested, time to focus on keeping fit. Light workouts are the perfect exercise for expecting mothers. What better light exercise for you other than Kegels? Probably none.

The benefits of doing Kegels include strengthening of your pelvic floor muscles, which in turn prevents the dropping of the womb, and also makes it easier to get back into shape post-birth. And finally, advice that applies to literally everyone: stay hydrated.

For pregnant mothers, it is ok to drink slightly less water than you usually would, so that you won’t be forced into visiting the toilet every 5 minutes or so. It is also better to drink water before you actually feel thirsty. Dehydration is not a joke.

You May Also Read this : 3rd Trimester Pregnancy Body Changes & Tips That Help

All the Best!

If you have made it all the way here, you are now equipped with more knowledge to get through your pregnancy.

We wish you a smooth and happy pregnancy all the way to motherhood for you and your family!

Also, find out what to do post-birth or consider getting confinement care from trusted professional confinement nannies at PEM Confinement Nanny Agency!

Disclaimer, if you are now heading over to Google “PEM massage”, we repeat, they deal in confinement care. We’re the ones dealing in massage here at PNSG.