Keeping healthy while you're pregnant shouldn't involve massive changes to your lifestyle, you just need to think about what you eat, cut out some of the things you know are bad for you and do some regular gentle exercise. A lot of people don't realise how important it is to look after your teeth with extra care both during and after pregnancy too as during these times plaque build up is more likely. Here are some dos and don'ts to keep healthy while you're pregnant.
Diet:
Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the most important things for both you and your baby. You don't have to follow a strict diet just try and eat a varied range of healthy foods each day -
Eat every day:
o Five portions of fruit and vegetables
o At least one portion of high-protein food like meat, fish, eggs, beans or lentils
o Dairy products that are high in calcium such as cheese or yogurt and if possible choose a low fat variety
o Carbohydrates such as bread, cereal, rice or pasta
Avoid eating regularly:
o Fatty foods like crisps and fried foods
o Sugary things like chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks
o Coffee, tea and other high caffeine drinks
Avoid completely:
o Spreads and soft cheeses
o Liver and related foods such as pate
o Eggs that aren't cooked properly
Alcohol:
You should try to avoid consuming alcohol when pregnant as any alcohol that you consume is passed to your baby. If you drink regularly and/or get drunk then there is a serious chance that you could harm your baby. If you are going to drink, it is advisable that you don't drink more than 2 units of alcohol a couple of times a week and avoid getting drunk completely.
Exercise:
By keeping fit and being active, your body will find it a lot easier to adjust to the stresses of being pregnant. You should try and do a small amount of light exercise every day as this can:
Help you feel more relaxed and avoid stress
Improve blood circulation which is good for both you and your baby
Help avoid back pains
If you exercised regularly before being pregnant then you can try keep that up as long as it feels comfortable but if you don't, try introducing light exercise into your daily routine.