Relax, breathe in and enjoy – Congratulations! You are going to be a mum. Pregnancy denotes the start of the most wonderful and exciting phase of your life. Don’t forget to cherish these moments while your body is busy creating a new life. This new phase of your life is not only an overwhelming time for you but also for your near and dear ones. So expect to receive quite a few pregnancy tips from them every now and then. However, these tips can confuse you all the more. So, give your thoughts a rest and read through the pregnancy tips for new mums discussed below!
Best pregnancy tips for new mums
Pregnancy tips are not only important to survive the starting days but also to aid the transition from the first trimester to the second and to the third. So let us know more about these tips in a phase-wise manner.
First trimester of pregnancy
The early days of pregnancy are a mixture of pleasant emotions and pain. You’ll feel nauseous, might not sleep soundly, worry about the baby, etc. How to battle all this, is vital for transition.
- Keep yourself active
Staying active is not only important in the first days of pregnancy but also helpful in the long term. This is the proper time to introduce some new light exercises to your regime. For example, go for a brisk walk after dinner, or else early in the morning.
- Eating habits are crucial
This is especially noteworthy for those who tend to skip taking breakfast or ignore their hunger. Therefore, give more importance to the nutritional value of the food you eat, instead of the amount. Please do overlook any advice that says you need to eat for two now. Yes, you are going to need extra calories and nutrition but not right at the start of the pregnancy.
- Take ample rest
Taking rest is as important as any other pregnancy tips for new mums. It is good to stay active all the time but hearing the needs of your body to take it easy is also an important step. Your body is already working hard to create the new life and it can do so efficiently only by mixing activeness with periodic resting.
- Eat periodically
It is beneficial that you break your meals from 3 times a day to 4-5 times a day. Eat nutritious foods every 2 to 3 hours. Don’t keep your stomach empty or very full. Create a balance by eating often. Choose fruits over packaged snacks. Find a safer alternative to sugary, salty foods, for example- try roasted dry fruits or frozen grapes.
- Stay hydrated
It is a common mistake that every adult makes. We forget the importance of water in our lives. But now, you are bound to take care of this with the additional parental responsibility. Therefore, keep yourself hydrated. You can do so by drinking small amounts of water periodically. This way, you will be well-hydrated as well as you will not get stressed about doing so forcibly.
- Ask for help
In the early days of motherhood, it might be difficult to give up on your independent nature. But asking your partner to pick up a few extra tasks around the house can lessen your burden substantially. Don’t forget that your partner is the support system on which you can rely anytime with anything. Hence, instead of overburdening yourself, seek your partner’s help.
2nd trimester of pregnancy
The 2nd trimester of your pregnancy will be easier when you take care of yourself in the first trimester. However, there are some pregnancy tips for new mums in the 2nd trimester which are equally important.
- Continue to take prenatal vitamins and medications prescribed by your doctor.
- Increase intake of protein-rich foods that are also a natural source of fibre. Do not go for supplements unless advised by your doctor.
- Include exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscle. Be aware about not making it very intense. Do as much as your body allows without using excessive force.
- Avoid unpasteurized milk. And if dairy products do not suit your body then you can omit them completely from your diet.
- Apply moisturizer to your belly also. As the skin of your belly is stretching, applying moisturizer can not only help keep it healthy but also lessen the marks after childbirth.
3rd trimester of pregnancy
The 3rd trimester is the time when your body is in the final stage of creating new life. Therefore, you are going to see some major changes in your body form. It will be beneficial if you stress less on your body form and stress more on taking care of yourself. Here some pregnancy tips for new mums are mentioned that will be helpful for you.
- Learn about antenatal appointments. It will help you know more about the first signs of labour and give you information about how to cope with it.
- Increase your intake of calories and nutrients after discussing with your doctor.
- Include stretching exercises in your regimen. It will give you needed flexibility at the time of childbirth.
- Educate yourself about tightening of muscles of your womb from time to time. Interpret these contractions because it can help you distinguish between real signs of labour and false alarms.
- Invest in good quality pillows. You can use extra pillows to tuck between your knees or under your tummy to get comfortable before sleeping.
Final words
A lot happens in the early days of pregnancy. The rush of emotions can be staggering, but definitely worth it. At this time, it is very common for couples to hire a photographer for pregnancy photography or newborn photography. It’s trending right now and you should totally go for it! Albeit, the pregnancy tips for new mums mentioned here are solely catalysts to make every transition easier for you from trimester to trimester until childbirth. HAPPY MOTHERHOOD!!