Guest Post! Working Towards A Healthy Pregnancy & Child

Happy Friday everyone! I have a fantastic post here for you all from my guest blogger Katie! She has great tips on how to keep healthy during your pregnancy to benefit yourself and your little one, don't forget to hop over to her blog and follow if you want to see more great posts! :)Working Toward A Healthy Pregnancy and A Healthy ChildThough the nine months of pregnancy may seem like a long time to prepare for your child, it always goes VERY quickly. What you do throughout your pregnancy has a significant effect on the child inside you and your health in general. Efforts at healthy eating, exercise, rest and positive thinking go a long way toward ensuring a healthy pregnancy and a beautiful, healthy child. DietGood eating habits learned during pregnancy can carry you through your child’s entire childhood. Start eating more green, leafy vegetables for their antioxidant effects. Give up white bread and past for whole-grains that provide B vitamins for healthy body regulation. Get plenty of calcium from milk, yogurt and cottage cheese to keep your bones healthy and help the formation of your child’s bones. Eat sufficient protein in the form of meat, fish, beans and soy. If you love carbohydrates, try to eat healthier carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and fortified cereals. Feed your sweet tooth with fruit instead of high-calorie snacks and candies. HydratingDrinking plenty of water during pregnancy will help you remove the toxic wastes from your body to keep both you and the growing child healthy. Stay away from sugary, soft drinks and avoid artificial sweeteners, unless recommended by your doctor. Even large amounts of fruit juice can add more calories to your diet. If you want a little flavor in your water, add a small amount of fruit juice or squeeze some lemon in it. Exercise During PregnancyRegular exercise during pregnancy helps with muscle strength, bone density, blood circulation, sleep, digestion and mental attitude. Stay active during the nine months, but check with your doctor about activities that might be too strenuous. It’s a good idea to avoid in-line skating, horseback-riding, downhill skiing or other activities in which falls are common. Listen to your body and stop if you feel short of breath, dizzy or experience pain. SleepAt the beginning of the pregnancy, you may feel the need to sleep a lot. Give in to this feeling and allow your body to get the rest it needs to adjust to the physical changes of pregnancy. As the months go on and the abdomen enlarges, women often find that getting a good night sleep can be difficult. Utilize body pillows or additional small pillows to help you find a good position. Exercise gently before bedtime to help you get to sleep. Wear comfortable clothing for sleeping. Have a glass of milk or small piece of cheese before bedtime to allow you to feel satisfied and sleepy. If you have questions regarding aspects of your pregnancy, make sure to ask your doctor plenty of questions.I was fortunate enough to have a doctor I could trust and asked every question in the book.From diaper changing to cord blood banking I was able to map out a wonderful pregnancy plan thanks to the help of my doctor!Katie Moore has written and submitted this article. Katie is an active blogger who discusses the topics of, motherhood, children, fitness, health and all other things Mommy. She enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting new people! To connect with Katie contact her via her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter, @moorekm26