Now that you’re pregnant, it is more important than ever to take care of yourself both physically and emotionally. Staying healthy while you’re pregnant can help reduce your risk of complications and can also lead to a smoother pregnancy and a faster recovery period.

Here Are A Few Pregnancy Tips On How To Stay Healthy:

Start early with good prenatal care
The earlier women are able to start receiving prenatal care the better. As soon as you find out that you’re pregnant be sure to make an appointment with your family doctor or OBGYN right away. Going sooner rather than later means that you can start pregnancy supplements earlier, discuss your pregnancy plan with your healthcare provider, have routine blood tests done, and talk about any concerns you may have.

Additionally, if you fall under the category of a ‘high risk’ pregnancy which includes women with pre-existing medical conditions or women over the age of 40, it is specifically important to see your doctor as soon as possible.

Healthy eating
There is no such thing as the perfect pregnancy diet. As a general rule, most foods are safe to eat during pregnancy, but here are a few things to keep in mind:

Try to get a good mix of the following items in your everyday meals. The key is to mix and match to get a well-balanced diet

Grains—Includes things like bread, pasta, oatmeal, cereal, and tortillas.
Fruits & Vegetables—Fruits can be fresh, canned, frozen, or dried. Vegetables can also be raw, cooked, frozen, canned, or dried. Juices that are 100% fruit juice or 100% vegetable juice also count.
Protein —Includes meat, poultry, seafood, beans and peas, and eggs.
Dairy—Milk and products made from milk, such as cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.

Moderate exercise
If you thought that pregnancy meant staying at home and quitting all exercise, think again. Staying active during pregnancy will keep both you and your baby healthy. Studies show that regular physical activity helps with weight management and can enhance psychological well-being.

Many fitness activities, like walking, swimming, stationary cycling and low impact aerobics, are safe in pregnancy.

Most doctors agree that if you were regularly engaging in physical activity before you got pregnant, it’s okay to continue the same exercise during your pregnancy . If in doubt though, be sure to check with your doctor first.

Don’t forget your vitamins and minerals
Vitamins and minerals, like folate, iron, calcium and vitamin D, play important roles in many bodily functions. During pregnancy, you need lots of folic acid and iron to help reduce the risk of birth defects and keep the fatigue at bay. If you’re not able to stick to a healthy diet, then supplements are the best way to make sure you’re getting your daily recommended intake of vitamins.

Staying healthy during your pregnancy also means taking care of your emotional health
Your emotional wellness is a big part of staying healthy. Pregnancy is a time when your emotions go up and down. Your body is going through monumental changes; you may be stressed about things to come and perhaps also feel exhausted all the time. Therefore, stop and take some time for yourself. Don’t be too shy to accept help from your partner, family or friends, and treat yourself to some well-deserved breaks.

For a healthy pregnancy, you need to look at all aspects of your health– you need to take a holistic approach. Think about your diet, your physical status, and your emotional wellbeing. Try not to neglect any of these things and you’ll get the best out of your pregnancy over the next nine months.