First-Time Pregnancy: 7 Tips New Moms Should Follow

First-Time Pregnancy: 7 Tips New Moms Should Follow

New moms spend 1,400 hours online researching ways to keep their babies happy and healthy. This worrying comes with the territory of experiencing a whole new kind of responsibility.

Becoming pregnant is only the beginning but it’s a very vital stage in your child’s health.

Start on the right track by following these 7 tips for first-time pregnancies.

1. Avoid Caffeine

Drinking caffeine during pregnancy has some major health risks. The caffeine gets digested much slower and goes through the placenta into your baby’s bloodstream.

This means that the caffeine side effects of a racing heart rate, high blood pressure, and a stimulated nervous system affect you and your baby.

The result is a higher chance of miscarriage. Even small amounts have been known to cause a 13% increase in low birth weight for your newborn.

Try switching to a naturally decaffeinated herbal tea, but do consult your doctor or midwife as certain herbs can cause premature labor.

2. Exercise Regularly

Having a baby is rough both physically and mentally. To combat the pain and mood swings that come with being pregnant, exercise regularly.

Low impact exercise can help ease back pain, increase circulation, and improve your mood. It will also strengthen your muscles and ligaments in preparation for labor.

Some great exercises that limit the stress on your body include swimming and walking. Yoga increases fertility rates and prenatal yoga opens up your hips, relieves stress, and assists with restlessness.

Lifting heavy weights or exhausting yourself through intense cardio workouts may do more harm than good.

3. Drink Plenty of Water

First-time moms require more water than normal as it becomes part of the amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby. Low fluid can lead to miscarriage or birth defects, as well as complicated labor.

You can get dehydrated fast while pregnant since you need more than you are used to. It is recommended that you drink at least 10 cups of 8 ounces each day to stay hydrated.

Drinking enough water can also relieve swollen joints and flush your system of built-up toxins.

4. Take Naps

Fatigue, especially during the first trimester, is common. Your body is going through hormonal changes that will affect your energy levels.

Take the time now to catch up on sleep and let your body relax. Once the baby is born, you won’t have the opportunity to rest as often. Your sleep schedule will be inconsistent and lacking.

So, treat yourself to an afternoon nap to restore yourself and help ease the stress of work and personal life on your baby.

Getting the right amount of sleep at night is also important. As your pregnancy progresses, it will become more difficult to sleep at night. You will use the bathroom often and struggle to find a comfortable position for your bump.

Make up for lost sleep at night and invest in a pregnancy pillow that goes in between your thighs and under your below. A pillow will align your hips to take the pressure off of your back and pelvis.

5. Prenatal Massage

Before giving birth, schedule a time for a professional prenatal massage.

A low-impact massage treats lower back pain that can be a menace throughout your pregnancy. It will also increase circulation and remove inflammation that causes swelling.

Avoid a massage at the beginning of your first trimester. Most practitioners won’t accept women during this time as the chance of miscarriage is higher. You can get a message anytime up into your due date after that.

6. Make a Birth Plan

Being a mother begins during the birth of your baby. You want to make this moment special and safe. That is why making a birthing plan is essential.

Do your own research online about your options before taking any advice from friends and family. This is your decision so you should have an unbiased view of the ways to give birth.

While a hospital birth is traditional, a rise in the use of midwives and even home births is occurring in the USA. There has been a 77% increase in home births from 2004 to 2017.

Your location is not the only choice you have to make. The decisions to use an epidural, have a water birth, or a delayed cord clamping are just a few more.

7. Go Shopping

Get excited for your bundle of joy by getting those essential and cute baby items ready.

You can prepare the nursery with a crib, changing table, rocking chair, and dresser. Plus, pick out a bright color for the walls and decals for the windows for your baby to enjoy.

Dressing your baby is fun, but it also requires a lot of planning. You don’t want to run out of clothes when your baby has a growth spurt. Plan to buy one size up from their current age. Newborn clothes won’t last long so only buy a few.

You also want to decide on diaper brands or choose cloth or reusable inserts. For newborns, disposable diapers work the best since you will be changing very often. As they get older, you may switch to a more eco-friendly option.

Don’t forget about blankets, bibs, bottles, and some starter toys.

These items will help you prepare both physically and mentally for your new addition.

Finding More Tips for First-Time Pregnancies

As you progress in your pregnancy, more questions will pop up daily. To find more tips for first-time pregnancies visit online forums and mom’s groups to get anecdotal advice from moms who have been in your shoes.

If you plan to have another child, but you don’t know when then visit our egg and sperm freezing page for information about planning for the future.