Pregnancy Health

Pregnancy Health

Maintaining you health both before and during pregnancy is necessary to ensure a successful pregnancy. To learn more about your health and getting ready for pregnancy, read Diet & Lifestyle. Taking care of your health during pregnancy is not only important for you but also for your baby. As soon as you begin to show any of the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, including morning sickness, it's time to take better care of your health. Knowing about all the possible prenatal risks can help you know what to avoid when you are pregnant. You'll also need to make an appointment with a prenatal care provider, but should you go with an OB/GYN, family doctor or a midwife? Prenatal Care Practitioners can help you decide.

Another important part to a maintaining a healthy pregnancy and gaining the right amount of weight? Exercise and diet! Eating the right foods will help to ensure that you and your baby stay healthy throughout your pregnancy. But remember that while you may be experiencing some pregnancy cravings, there are foods that you need to avoid, including caffeine, when you are pregnant. And while you may not always feel like it, exercise can help you feel better throughout your pregnancy and even make labor easier, especially if you do your kegels! Regular exercise can also aid in reducing your risk of developing gestational diabetes. Just remember to keep these exercise safety tips in mind.

To help ensure the health of your baby, various prenatal tests are done throughout your pregnancy. Many of these are optional but can give you important information about how well your baby is doing. Routine prenatal care can also help minimize the likelihood of pregnancy complications, like preeclampsia. A big part of prenatal care is getting those all important ultrasounds. For parents in California wanting something extra exciting, consider a 4d ultrasound Los Angeles. Not in California? No problem, 4d ultrasounds are available at select clinics nationwide.

If you are expecting twins, triplets or more, then you may have even more prenatal testing done throughout the course of your pregnancy. Moms-to-be of twins (or more) may also have to deal with hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness that requires medical attention.

Many women may not realize it, but during pregnancy some bleeding can be normal. However, other types of bleeding and spotting in pregnancy may indicate a problem, such as a placental disorder. Bleeding During Pregnacy can help you learn the difference.

There are some substances that many women know they should avoid during pregnancy but may not know why. Pregnancy and Alcohol Use will help you understand how alcohol affects your baby during pregnancy while Pregnancy and Smoking outlines the detrimental affects of nicotine on your baby and may just help to give you the encouragement you need to kick your habit. Psychiatric Medicines and Pregnancy outlines which drugs you should stay away from.

If you are using illegal drugs and are pregnant, it's not too late to stop. Pregnancy and Drugs details all the possible complications that can arise in both mother and child when you abuse drugs. It also offers some useful resources for those looking for help.

One risk that women may be unaware of is the risk of radiation exposure. Learn what is safe and what isn't in Prenatal Radiation Exposure. Also, if you are HIV positive or think you may have been exposed to the virus, read Pregnancy and HIV/AIDS or an article about new treatment options that can help prevent HIV transmission to newborns during pregnancy.

Pregnant cat owners should also take a look at Toxoplasmosis. This rare but serious infection can cause problems for both you and your baby if you contract it while you are pregnant.

In addition to your physical health, it is also important to take care of your mental health. Developing depression during pregnancy can be detrimental to both you and your baby. Moreover, developing depression while you are pregnant increases your risk of developing postpartum depression after birth.

Wondering when the best time to try to conceive is? Learn more about planning your pregnancy at Planning Your Pregnancy. Find more information about pregnancy at our informative Pregnancy site.

Additionally, you can find information on doulas, midwives, birth centers and a free pregnancy week by week newsletter from the American Pregnancy Association.